Why Do People Laugh When They Are Scared: Scientific Facts

28.05.2024 12:43

It is logical that if a person experiences fear or horror, he should scream, close his eyes or run away.

But there are times when the horror experienced makes a person smile or even laugh.

This is how science explains this phenomenon.

Scientists have discovered that rhesus macaques often bare their teeth when in contact with dominant conspecifics.

After the weak monkey "smiled," the aggressor became friendlier.

Human
Photo: Pixabay

Scientists have concluded that in this case, laughter allows one to acknowledge fear and demonstrates a desire to avoid conflict.

Another theory is that laughter actually negates fear. This concept was published by Psychology Today.

In this case, laughter and smiling work as a defense mechanism.

That's why people laugh at injuries, falls, etc., thereby talking about their ability to withstand this test.

The third theory, published in Psychological Science, suggests that laughter is a self-regulation tool.

Nervous laughter or opposite emotions have a calming effect, balancing a person's emotional state.

We previously talked about how to deal with criticism of your work .

Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor