Laughing is one way for us to know if a person is happy or entertained. Recent scientific discoveries have also proved that laughter can help us get to know more about others and ourselves. This has been proven by psychologists and researchers who have been studying laughter for some time.

1. Recognizing spontaneous and voluntary laughter

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2. You are more inclined to laugh if you know the person telling the joke.

Do you have a specific friend or a favorite comedian who always makes you laugh? Science says that laughing at or with someone is most likely because of familiarity. We often find jokes funnier if they were told by someone we know, like a friend or a famous comedian.

3. We laugh most when we are with friends.

According to Robert Provine, a psychologist from the University of Maryland, we are 30 times more likely to laugh at something when we are engaging in a conversation with other people. The study also found that it’s not the jokes that make us laugh, it’s our way of reacting to others to show them that we like and understand them.

4. Our relationships last longer when we laugh together.

During research done by UC Berkeley psychologist Bob Levenson, he asked couples to talk about a sensitive matter like what annoyed them about their partner. The study showed that when couples used laughter and smiling in their conversations, they felt better immediately after talking about a touchy subject. They also reported being more satisfied in their relationship and staying together longer.

Please note: This article was updated in February 2023 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.