Abstract
Laughter is contagious, sensitive to social context, and can be used to mitigate negative emotional states. This experiment tested whether moments of transition from negative to positive affect were associated with more laughter if in familiar compared to unfamiliar company. 90 participants (47 females, mean age 20.61 years), either familiar (N=42) or unfamiliar (N=48) to the principle researcher, were randomly assigned to listen to 44 seconds of music which induced a fearful affect, positive affect or a neutral mood, followed by 30 seconds of infectious laughter (N=30/group). Filmed facial expressions were coded for four dependent variables (duration: half smile; full smile; laugh, and extent: peak mirth) of amusement in response to the laughter. Familiar participants fully smiled for longer than unfamiliar participants (F(1,84)=4.15, p=.045). There was an affect-familiarity interaction for peak mirth (F(2,84)=4.68, p=.01), time spent half smiling F(2,84)=5.00, p=.009), and fully smiling (F(2,84)=3.48, p=.035). Post hoc analyses revealed familiar participants exhibited greater peak mirth and smiled (half and full) for longer than unfamiliar participants in the fearful affect condition. Laughter and positive emotions may be used to moderate negative arousal more amongst people known to each other than amongst strangers.
Highlights
Laughter is an inherently social behaviour which is prevalent in interactions as wide ranging as tickling and conversations (Gervais and Wilson 2005; Provine 2001)
The study investigated whether more laughter and positive emotional expressions were produced by participants in familiar than unfamiliar company, in the context of transition from negative arousal to a more positive affect
The hypothesis was that laughter produced in response to infectious laughter would be greatest following fearful affect, and would show sensitivity to social context, being greatest in familiar compared to unfamiliar company
Summary
Laughter is an inherently social behaviour which is prevalent in interactions as wide ranging as tickling and conversations (Gervais and Wilson 2005; Provine 2001). Laughter shows an in-group function: the act of laughing increases positive affect which further enhances the perceived pleasure of social interactions, promoting affiliative and cooperative behaviour (Owren and Bachorowski 2003; Martin 2007; Smoski and Bachorowski 2003). The “undo” hypothesis theorises that positive emotions, including laughter and smiling, function to mitigate negative arousal that arises from stressful events (Levenson 1988). The study investigated whether more laughter and positive emotional expressions were produced by participants in familiar than unfamiliar company, in the context of transition from negative arousal to a more positive affect. The hypothesis was that laughter produced in response to infectious laughter would be greatest following fearful affect, and would show sensitivity to social context, being greatest in familiar compared to unfamiliar company
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