PROFESSOR0:

Your facial muscles contract. Your top lip is pulled upwards. Your larynx half closes and you breathe in short, rapid gasps. What's wrong with you? You're laughing!

Your facial muscles contract. Your top lip is pulled upwards. Your larynx half closes and you breathe in short, rapid gasps. What's wrong with you? You're laughing!
PROFESSOR1:

There's two different kinds of laugh. The first one lasts only a few seconds. It could be a chuckle, a giggle, a cackle or a snigger. The second kind of laugh makes your face go red. Your diaphragm moves up and downyour heart rate quickenstears come to your eyesand your body releases a cocktail of chemicals thatquite simplymakes you feel good.

There's two different kinds of laugh. The first one lasts only a few seconds. It could be a chuckle, a giggle, a cackle or a snigger. The second kind of laugh makes your face go red. Your diaphragm moves up and down,your heart rate quickens,tears come to your eyes,and your body releases a cocktail of chemicals that,quite simply,makes you feel good.
PROFESSOR2:

This is often called the belly laugh. The reasons behind why we laugh are complex. Firstly, that old proverb, 'Laughter is the best medicine'is quite true. Laughing is good for your health. The chemicals released when you laugh can reduce stressboost the immune system and lower blood pressure.

This is often called the belly laugh. The reasons behind why we laugh are complex. Firstly, that old proverb, 'Laughter is the best medicine',is quite true. Laughing is good for your health. The chemicals released when you laugh can reduce stress,boost the immune system and lower blood pressure.
PROFESSOR3:

Secondlylaughter acts as a kind of social signal. Every day, we use laughter in different ways to help communicate our feelings to other people. For example, laughing can signal agreementpleasureunderstandingfriendship or attraction. That's why women like men who make them laugh, and men like women who laugh at their jokes. Men and women laugh in different ways.

Secondly,laughter acts as a kind of social signal. Every day, we use laughter in different ways to help communicate our feelings to other people. For example, laughing can signal agreement,pleasure,understanding,friendship or attraction. That's why women like men who make them laugh, and men like women who laugh at their jokes. Men and women laugh in different ways.
PROFESSOR4:

Laughterespecially in young menis related to the chemical testosteronewhich means men laugh in a more aggressive manner. It's believed women are more prone to laugh with, whereas men are more likely to laugh at. Furthermore, just as laughter cements social relationships between people, it also helps cement our hierarchies. One study found that employers actually make more jokes on a daily basis than their employees. It could be that humor is used to show people who's boss.

Laughter,especially in young men,is related to the chemical testosterone,which means men laugh in a more aggressive manner. It's believed women are more prone to laugh with, whereas men are more likely to laugh at. Furthermore, just as laughter cements social relationships between people, it also helps cement our hierarchies. One study found that employers actually make more jokes on a daily basis than their employees. It could be that humor is used to show people who's boss.
PROFESSOR5:

The flip side of this is that every time you laugh at your boss's jokes, you're strengthening his or her dominant position. But be carefulif you don't laugh, you might not get that promotion! There are various theories to explain what makes us laugh. Perhaps you laughed at Charlie Chaplin getting hit in the face because of a feeling of superiority, seeing someone repeatedly make a mistake is funny because they seem so stupid it makes you glad you're not them! Another theory is that humans laugh because of a feeling of relief.

The flip side of this is that every time you laugh at your boss's jokes, you're strengthening his or her dominant position. But be careful:if you don't laugh, you might not get that promotion! There are various theories to explain what makes us laugh. Perhaps you laughed at Charlie Chaplin getting hit in the face because of a feeling of superiority, seeing someone repeatedly make a mistake is funny because they seem so stupid it makes you glad you're not them! Another theory is that humans laugh because of a feeling of relief.
PROFESSOR6:

Perhaps our ancestors, after escaping from a dangerous situation, laughed to release their fear. In the funniest slapstick comedy momentswe laugh becausealthough we've just watched someone get hurtwe know they'll get up againrub their headand walk away. A third theory concerns the incongruity of the situation. To see a seemingly respectable, well dressed, educated man doing something extremely silly is unexpected and strange, and this makes us laugh. Humor, of course, differs from one culture to the next.

Perhaps our ancestors, after escaping from a dangerous situation, laughed to release their fear. In the funniest slapstick comedy moments,we laugh because,although we've just watched someone get hurt,we know they'll get up again,rub their head,and walk away. A third theory concerns the incongruity of the situation. To see a seemingly respectable, well dressed, educated man doing something extremely silly is unexpected and strange, and this makes us laugh. Humor, of course, differs from one culture to the next.
PROFESSOR7:

What might be funny to me might not be at all funny to you, and vice versa. What definitely is the case, though, is that explaining why something is funny tends to remove all the humour from it. Sometimes, things are just funny.

What might be funny to me might not be at all funny to you, and vice versa. What definitely is the case, though, is that explaining why something is funny tends to remove all the humour from it. Sometimes, things are just funny.