2011/09/14 by Robin Dunbar, Rebecca A. Baron, Anna Frangou +7 · 3 citations
Psychology · Arts and Humanities · #Humor Studies and Applications #Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression #Media Influence and Health
paper · doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373
openalex publication_date 2011/09/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Although laughter forms an important part of human non-verbal communication, it has received rather less attention than it deserves in both the experimental and the observational literatures. Relaxed social (Duchenne) laughter is associated with feelings of wellbeing and heightened affect, a proximate explanation for which might be the release of endorphins. We tested this hypothesis in a series of six experimental studies in both the laboratory (watching videos) and naturalistic contexts (watching stage performances), using change in pain threshold as an assay for endorphin release. The results show that pain thresholds are significantly higher after laughter than in the control condition. This pain-tolerance effect is due to laughter itself and not simply due to a change in positive affect. We suggest that laughter, through an endorphin-mediated opiate effect, may play a crucial role in social bonding.