# why do we laugh?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2000, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503 "2000-07-23T01:02:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pumpkin\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@pumpkin\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pumpkin_33)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503/1 "2000-07-23T01:02:34Z")

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It something we all just accept, but why do humans laugh, and why do we laugh when we are happy? i can’t think of any reason.

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**Author:** ![Demigod\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Demigod\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demigod_5)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503/2 "2000-07-23T01:06:18Z")

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Let me guess, you get the magazine Scientific American? If not, they just did an article on why people laugh…you can probably find it on their site. [http://www.sciam.com](http://www.sciam.com)

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**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503/3 "2000-07-23T01:43:56Z")

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If it’s at [http://www.sciam.com](http://www.sciam.com), I couldn’t find it.

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**Author:** ![Demigod\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Demigod\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demigod_5)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503/4 "2000-07-23T02:04:18Z")

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It’s in the August issue of Sci. Am., under the headline “More of the Best Medicine”. It may very well no be on the website. Oh well. The article doesn’t cover too much, it basically states that laughter is an evolutionary trait to show friendliness and build bonds. The article deals more with men and women laughing differently in various social situations.

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**Author:** ![Zinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e95f7d/32.png) [@Zinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zinger)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503/5 "2000-07-23T02:29:05Z")

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I suppose because everyone else is doing it. That’s why most people do anything.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-laugh/26503/6 "2000-07-23T03:34:39Z")

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I know where to find it because I am the King of Sciam. [http://www.sciam.com/2000/0800issue/0800scicit6.html](http://www.sciam.com/2000/0800issue/0800scicit6.html)