There are two kinds of people in this world: the ones that LOL and those that ROFL.
But laughter experts like me -- (yes, people do study this stuff professionally) say that
there are many more types.
So, are you a cackler or a guffawer, and what does that say about YOU?
Let’s.
Find.
Out.
The Giggle (example) It’s what you do to suppress laughter every
now and then, and everybody does it, not just teenage girls!
If you do it when the moment is clearly not right to crack up, that’s called politeness.
But if a person has a habit of stopping themselves from LOL-ing, it could be a sign that they’re
suppressing something else besides laughter, like nervousness.
Or maybe the joke wasn’t that funny?
Just sayin’…
The Snort (example) Snorting is another way of suppressing laughter,
but this time the air that would power that laugh ends up in your nose!
Snorters tend to be shy and introverted.
They care about others and are afraid that their laughter might disturb someone.
So, they make every effort to conceal it.
Even when something is hilarious, they prefer to keep it to themselves because, otherwise,
they'd have to deal with unwanted attention.
And that's what introverts want least of all!
Of course, the snort that escapes doesn’t exactly help with that, but isn’t it just
so adorable?
The Guffaw (example) Guffawing is easily the most contagious form
of laughter.
You could call it the real-life equivalent of the iconic online LOL.
Individuals who have this deep-belly laugh are extroverted and sociable.
Dealing with all the attention guffawing gets you would be too much for an introvert.
Guffawers are down to earth and uninhibited chance-takers.
One such person in a group of friends is enough to keep any party or conversation lively.
By the way, some people start off laughing almost discretely and then burst out into
a guffaw – that’s called a “carry-on” laugh, and it’s impossible not to join in!
The Cackle (example) “It's so easy to lose yourself in a crowd”
…said no cackler ever.
These uber cool people are always the center of everyone’s attention, and you’ll hear
them even amidst a parade.
Luckily for them, cacklers don’t only attract attention but also success.
They’re bold and self-confident, and having the loudest form of laughter is just one way
to show it.
Cacklers typically make the best jokes, so be prepared to jump on the laugh wagon, whether
you like it or not!
Craughing (example) Have you ever seen someone laugh so hard that
tears started streaming down their cheeks?
Or maybe you’re a frequent craugher yourself?
If you know one of these ROFL-ers, keep that person in your life and never let them go!
Such people have bright personalities, and they’re trustworthy.
They aren’t afraid to show how they really feel and will never lie to you or let you
down.
The Wheeze (example) It's sometimes hard to tell if a person is
laughing or has a gnarly case of bronchitis.
That's pretty much what a wheeze sounds like.
It usually happens to people who are boisterous laughers, but for some reason, they have to
restrain themselves from letting it out.
Wheezers have a great sense of humor, but they prefer to hide it to seem more serious
and professional.
It must be their shy and timid side driving wheezers into this sort of behavior.
The Snicker (example) People who laugh under their breath find humor
in things and situations that leave others wondering, “What on Earth are they laughing
at?”
Snickerers are easy-going, smart, and witty.
They have a ton of friends and make new ones in a matter of minutes.
Who doesn’t like a Hakuna Matata approach to life?
The Silent Laugh (example) When something especially comical happens,
even the most serious and humble people can’t help but laugh.
Except, they do it in their own peculiar way: it’s their eyes that are laughing.
Their mouth corners go up, but they make no sounds of laughter whatsoever.
This is a clear sign they don’t want any attention since they’re introverts and like
to keep their feelings to themselves.
Mirthless Laughter (example) If you spot someone laughing with their mouth
wide open but with perfectly serious eyes (that is, you don’t see little wrinkles
form on the outer corners) – that's a mirthless or fake laugh.
It’s not possible to laugh with a stoic facial expression, at least not genuinely.
This type will make an effort to produce that “haha” sound so that they don’t come
off as rude.
And hats off to them for trying not to hurt the joke-teller’s feelings.
Just be careful with a person who fakes laughter – you never know what else they could be
faking…
Of course, you might have different types of laughter depending on the joke, situation,
or your mood.
But think about which one you TEND to let out, and let me know down in the comments
if the description I gave matches your personality!
Anyway, there is a science that studies laughter and how it affects your body.
It's called gelotology.
Here are some fun tidbits these experts have found out:
- When you hear someone laughing, you immediately assume that they’re happy about something.
But in reality, the reasons behind it are much more diverse and complex.
Laughter can indicate joy, confidence, relief, love, loathing, and even discomfort and fear!
- In fact, laughter rarely has anything to do with humor and jokes.
One of the leading laughter experts in the world, Dr. Robert Provine, found that only
10% of all giggling and cackling are caused by jokes.
Laughter actually plays a more important role – it helps people bond because it eases
tension and helps cheer everyone up.
You’re 30 times more likely to laugh at something around other people, so it's not
entirely a reaction but a way of socializing!
- There’s more to laughter than just bonding – it also has a ton of health benefits.
It helps lower blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, releases endorphins, and keeps
your heart strong and healthy.
Consider it an excellent cardio workout!
And this one will turn any silent laugher into a guffawer: it’s a perfect exercise
for your abs too!
When you laugh out loud, your abdominal muscles contract and relax, just like they do at the
gym.
- Couples that laugh together have a better chance at a happily-ever-after.
Psychologist Dr. Robert Levenson says that laughter helps people be more satisfied with
their relationship.
When interviewed about what annoys them most in their partner, couples that discussed this
touchy subject with humor felt better about it, and there was less tension between them.
- Humans aren't the only ones that laugh.
Gorillas have mastered sign language and can go “ho ho” at visitors they like.
Rats, as it turns out, are quite ticklish, particularly in the neck area.
If you tickle them on the nape, they produce a high-frequency chirp that’s very much
like laughter.
Rats also laugh while playing, just like humans do when bonding!
- Laughter affects your brain in ways you can’t imagine.
When you hear other people laughing, you'll probably bust out as well…or at least smile
at them if you’re more on the reserved side.
Neuroscientists analyzed people’s brain activity while they listened to sounds of
laughter.
It looks like just hearing it turns on the region of the brain that prepares facial muscles
to get into action.
- Your brain can also automatically tell the difference between fake and real laughter.
It has a special area responsible for understanding others’ emotions.
People who easily get on the laughing track when they hear others do it are especially
good at this.
- It’s not surprising that kids laugh more than adults, but plenty of studies have shown
that women laugh slightly more often than men.
On average, adults laugh around 17 times a day.
- Some things are more likely to make you LOL than others.
Videos of other people trying not to laugh at something usually work like magic.
And since laughter is contagious, TV shows often play a recording of it after a funny
situation to make their audience join in.
And there ya go: the classic sitcom laugh track explained!
Hey, if you learned something new today, then give the video a like and share it with a
friend!
And here are some other cool videos I think you'll enjoy.
Just click to the left or right, and stay on the Bright Side of life!