Articles tagged with Laughter
A Canadian study found that appreciation and emotional reactiveness to humor doesn't change with age. However, the ability to comprehend more complex forms of humor diminishes in later years due to decreased cognitive abilities. Older adults still enjoy a good laugh but struggle with understanding nuanced humor.
A Penn State sociologist analyzed five NBC sitcoms from 1997-98, finding a high rate of gender harassment and a lower but still troubling rate of sexual harassment. The researcher argues that these incidents perpetuate a hostile work environment and minimize the seriousness of sexual harassment.
A team of psychologists studied 1024 laughter episodes from young adults watching funny video clips. They found interesting sex differences in laugh types and pitches, with women producing more song-like laughs than men. Laughter is surprisingly high-pitched, with some laughs reaching frequencies of over 2,000 Hz.
A study of 300 people found that those with heart disease laughed less and displayed more anger and hostility. Researchers suggest incorporating laughter into daily activities as a potential heart-healthy habit.
A study published by the American Heart Association suggests that laughing often and exuberantly can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Researchers compared humor responses in 150 heart patients to 150 healthy controls, finding that heart patients were 40% less likely to laugh in various situations.