By Dr Laila Abdel Aal Alghalban
Have you ever laughed uncontrollably in situations where you were supposed to be sad, serious or considerate? I am sure that you are nodding with a big smile on your face, recalling the so many weird times this happened to you, possibly during funerals, weddings, classes, court sessions, etc. No problem! You are not alone ; it happens to everyone. Yes, laughter happens to us; we never plan to laugh!
Lingering in memory
Personally, two incidents linger in my memory and both were during high school. The first one occurred when my classmates and I went to offer our condolences to my friend for the loss of her father. I felt deeply sad as she and I used to sit at the same desk in class and she would update me daily on her father’s battle with a chronic and incurable disease. We headed to her house, just a three-minute walk from school, took the stairs and the moment we saw her, I couldn’t help laughing. I struggled to control myself; I tried to hide my face and find a back seat until I relaxed and get back to normal gradually, a caring, sympathetic friend. Ever since, I have been wondering how can one experience completely contradictory feelings at the same time? The second incident was extremely irritating. I wouldn’t stop myself from laughing every time one of my teachers started teaching and calling students names.
“And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep”
One of the signs of Allah is His ability to make people laugh and weep: “And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep,” the Nobel Qur’an: An- Najm (53:43). The aya resounds in my head as almost all scholars admit that very little is known about laughter. It would remain a mystery that puzzles everyone, just like the mystery of life and death. Interestingly, we go the extra mile to create the necessary environment to stimulate this mysterious, puzzling thing to happen to us and get a good doze of laughter. We watch comedian shows, movies and even prank shows, where we laugh at peoples’ mishaps, head to a ‘tickle spa’, or chase laughter by being in the company of funny people. What does latest research say about laughter? And how is it looked at across cultures?
How do you laugh?
Noises of various kinds resulting from contractions of chest muscles under strong emotions are the vocal signs of laughter. It is also associated with other bodily movements and gestures. No significant role for our speech organs such as the tongue or the soft palate has been detected. Laughter sometimes happens when we surprisingly realise something; we start draining air out of our lungs to cope with the state of disbelief we experience. Your laugh, giggly, loud, creepy, attractive, etc., is not necessarily unique like your fingerprint, something you are predisposed to. On the contrary, you can change it and imitate the laugh of your heroes in life, or a trendy laughing style. It is possible! Although laughter is universal, the way people laugh is subject to cultural peculiarities. In some cultures, it is not appropriate for women to laugh in public.
What do you feel when you laugh?
Happy? Tired? Choked? Laughter is a behaviour shared by all humans regardless of their cultures and languages, just like breathing, yawning, walking, running, among other physiological and behavioral activities. You might think that we laugh when we see funny things or funny people. But this is not accurate. Studies show that about 90 % of our laughter is triggered in unfunny situations. Think about a very dull, awkward moment you were fed up with, and how it ended up with hysterical laughter. Unfortunately, little is known about the neurological and biochemical processes that explain laughter. Nor is there any satisfactory explanation for why we do not laugh.
Laughter, tears and stress
Laughter and stress are inseparable. We laugh when we fall under pressure such as when we stumble upon a stone or a lump of wood, or when you vent your anger. Sometimes, we think that laughing is the best way to avoid such awkward or stressful situations. Likewise, laughter and tears share a common feature: they are signs of overwhelming emotions that rock us hard, causing a strong squeeze of our muscles. Recent medical research suggests that laughter and tears are the best medicine for stress; it recommends the fight for the destigmatisation of shedding tears in public; it is a badly needed catharsis, and we should embrace our feelings because they are part of who we are.
A good guffaw is the best medicine
Studies also show that laughter is an excellent natural painkiller. Belly laughter, rather than tittering or giggling, causes certain chemical reactions that help release endorphins, the hormone of happiness into our bodies, helping us to bear pain and experience a state of euphoria, the pleasure we feel when we dance, sing, run, play, chat, etc. In an experiment, participants were given ice bags to hold and were observed watching a comedian show. They held the ice bags longer than usual. “The greater the amount of endorphins produced, he greater the increase in pain threshold, “ one study concluded.
A way of connecting to others
Studies also find that endorphins creates strong social bonds among community members. You definitely will find people- pleasers. You laugh out loud at their jokes. Laughing is contiguous, people catch it excessively easily. So, laugh! It is your impressive passport to hearts and souls.
Finally, let us embrace our natural predisposition to laugh and cherish this gift from our Creator, who knows that laughing is good for us and causes us to laugh at least 20 times a day. As long as we laugh, our nervous system is safe and sound. Never miss the healing power of laughter.
By Dr Laila Abdel Aal Alghalban
Professor of linguistics Faculty of Arts Kafr el-sheikh University
Email: [email protected]
