The Surprising Science of Why We Laugh (#285)
1/20/202620 min
We tend to think of laughter as a reaction to something funny. A joke. A punchline. A moment of humor. But in real conversations, laughter shows up in ways that matter far more than we realize.
Neuroscientist Sophie Scott CBE explores why we laugh, how laughter actually works, and the many roles it plays in our relationships - from bonding and relief to concealment and control.
Sophie Scott is a professor at University College London and a leading researcher on the science of laughter.
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First 90 secondsLynn Thoman· Host0:00
[chime] We tend to think of laughter as a reaction to something funny, a punchline, a joke, a moment of humor. But when you listen to laughter in real, everyday conversations, a much stranger picture starts to emerge. [music] So if laughter isn't really about humor, what is it for? And why does laughter matter more than we think? Hi, everyone, I'm Lynn Tolman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world, and maybe even ourselves, a little better. Today, I'm excited to be with neuroscientist Sophie Scott. She studies the science of laughter. It turns out that everything we think we know about laughter is wrong. Laughter is not even primarily a response to humor. I'm excited to learn more. Welcome, Sophie, and thanks so much for our conversation today.
Sophie Scott· Guest1:13
Hello, and thank you very much for inviting me.
Lynn Thoman· Host1:15
Why is laughter worth taking seriously?
Sophie Scott· Guest1:19
I think because it's probably one of the more important emotional expressions that we use socially. If you ask people about what makes them laugh, they'll talk about