A burst of heartful belly laughter on a regular basis has positive physiological benefits which can be easily measured. In his book “As Anatomy of an Illness”, Norman Cousins described Laughter as creating an analgesic effect for pain relief. To experience Humour, you may have to buy expensive Tickets to Live Comedy, Theatre Shows, or Standup Comedy Acts. Often jokes are written to pull someone’s leg, and not everyone has a good sense of humour. Some celebrities and politicians don’t take the jokes about them so lightly. Therefore, comedians may have to face the fire when they crack jokes about these people.
For the consumption of humour, an understanding of the culture, context and current affairs are essential prerequisites. Otherwise, the joke may fall flat or even hurt someone’s feelings. Humour based on cultural symbols, artefacts, genres, language, clothing, rituals may be seen as a medium for dominance, exploitation, and transculturation.
According to the “Release Theory”, Laughter caused by humour is the physical manifestation of repressed desires and motivations. The “Superiority Theory” on the other hand, states that humour is created by showing off one’s self-esteem at the expense of others. Your body does not know the difference between Spontaneous Laughter (caused by humour) and Simulated Laughter (which I practice as well as teach). Therefore, we get the same benefits from these two types of laughter.
Spontaneous Laughter, is momentary but Simulated Laughter has a method, a direction and is done with a purpose. In my Laughter classes, I coax the participants to get Health benefits, Mood enhancement as well as Psychological benefits, such as relief from Stress, Anxiety and Depression without using any humour at all. Humour delivered at
inappropriate times can be devastating, insensitive or derogatory, but Laughter, even without humour, creates hormones in the body which reduces stress and pain. With no downsides, side effects, or risks, perhaps it is
time to consider laughter more seriously. And that’s the reason I say, “Laughter is 100 times better than Humour”.
