diAnna Fregonara
A laughing child is not necessarily a happy child. The expert tells us what the true meaning of laughter is depending on age
On average, a child laughs 300 times a day at 4 years of age, while an adult laughs at 17. This is stated in a document published by the University of Kentucky. «The adult laughs as a two-phase reaction. The first is characterized by a moment of dismay, also called “inconsistency”. It happens when we see something that is out of place, that surprises us: a caricature, the nose of Cyrano de Bergerac, an ungainly gentleman in line with the candidates for the Miss World competition”, explains Carlo Bellieni, professor of Paediatrics at the University of Siena, head of the Neonatal Pain Care and Nursery Management Unit and member of the Tuscany Region Bioethics Committee.
«In the second phase, however, we realize that what surprised and worried us for a moment appears harmless and at that point we laugh. Laughter is, therefore, a non-verbal communication of having grasped this inconsistency, understanding it and understanding that it doesn’t hurt. This is why if we see a man fall and break his leg we don’t laugh, which is what we do if he falls and gets up unharmed. Why, however, do children laugh so much? They are expected to do it for joy, but that is not the case. Behind that gesture there are much deeper meanings. That gesture is an indicator of his mental growth which also unfolds through the three stages of development of laughter: imitation and approval, amazement, judgement.”
Newborns: imitation and approval
«From walking to talking, everything the child learns he learns through imitation. The newborn laughs because he wants to imitate his parents and receive their approval, since by responding to mum and dad’s behavior with similar behavior he will be rewarded with a smile, a caress”, underlines the pediatrician. «In this scenario, mirror neurons, groups of neuronal populations that induce us to “copy” the behaviors of those in front of us, probably play an important role, but further research is needed on this aspect».
From 2 to 5 years: amazement
«As the child grows, he emerges from the symbiosis with his parents that characterizes the first months of life», explains Bellieni. «From 2 to 5 years old he no longer laughs mainly in imitation, but he begins to do so out of amazement. A child laughs when he sees his father with a fake clown nose because he can understand that something is out of place and when he understands that it is just a dad joke, he calms down and laughs. The elaboration of that double phase that characterizes adult laughter begins to manifest itself, in an embryonic version.”
From 5 to 10 years: judgment
«Around 4-5 years of age, the child overcomes the typical phase of feeling at the center of everything, ego-centered», says the expert. «In fact, he realizes that others can have different thoughts from him, he learns to manage abstract concepts, to judge and understand the first jokes. He learns more and more the sense of irony, his laughter will be more similar to the biphasic one of adults until, at 10 years old, he will begin to laugh consciously because, like adults, he will be able to fully distinguish the false in life, that is the “inconsistencies”».
Ally of the immune system
“Studies conducted all over the world have shown that an atmosphere of humor translates into a better quality of life, a greater possibility of finding pleasure, feeling joy and releasing tension”, concludes the pediatrician. «Furthermore, laughter activates the chemistry of the will to live and increases our ability to fight diseases, which makes it an effective tool for self-care and support for our immune system by increasing antibodies that fight infections».
Other health benefits
Researchers at the University of Kentucky have also summarized the main health benefits of laughter.
Blood pressure
People who laugh heartily and regularly have lower blood pressure than average. When you laugh, your blood pressure initially increases, but then decreases to below-normal levels.
Heart
According to research conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Center, laughter, along with an active sense of humor, can help protect against a heart attack. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughing can help prevent heart disease, found that people with heart conditions were 40% less likely to laugh in a range of situations than people of the same age without heart disease.
Hormones
Laughter reduces at least four of the neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress: epinephrine, cortisol, dopamine and growth hormone.
Brain function
Laughter stimulates both sides of the brain to improve learning. It eases muscle tension and psychological stress, keeping the brain alert and allowing people to retain more information.
Breathing
Frequent belly laughs empty the lungs of more air than they take in, causing a cleansing effect similar to that of deep breathing, which sends oxygen- and nutrient-enriched blood throughout the body.
A good workout
Laughing is equivalent to “internal jogging”. According to William Fry, professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University, one minute of laughter is equivalent to ten minutes of rowing. Laughter can provide good conditioning of the heart, abdominal, facial and back muscles, especially for those who are unable to perform physical activity.
Mental and emotional health
Finally, humor and laughter are powerful emotional medicine that can lower stress, dissolve anger, and bring people together in difficult times. Mood is improved if you try to find humor in complicated and frustrating situations. Laughing at ourselves and the situation we find ourselves in helps us understand that little things are not the earth-shattering events they sometimes seem. Laughter and humor foster relationships, rejuvenate and regenerate our energy. It is perhaps no coincidence that laughter sounds the same in all cultures, leading some researchers to believe that laughter helped unite our ancestors.
March 30, 2024
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