‘Laughter evolved as a signal to others—it almost disappears when we are alone,’ says Robert Provine.
Provine found that most laughter comes as a polite reaction to everyday remarks such as ‘see you later’, rather than anything particularly funny.
Zimmerman discovered that chimp and human baby laughter follow broadly the same pattern.
Zimmerman believes the closeness of baby laughter to chimp laughter supports the idea that laughter was around long before humans arrived on the scene.
The most compelling evidence for laughter beyond primates comes from research done by Panksepp, into the ultrasonic chirps produced by rats during play and in response to tickling.
The unconscious, involuntary nature of laughter is what makes it a reliable signal of trust, according to Tom Flamson.
Questions
1. Babies and some animals produce laughter which sounds similar.
2. Primates are not the only animals who produce laughter.
3. Laughter can be used to show that we feel safe and secure with others.
4. Most human laughter is not a response to a humorous situation.