Laughter as Group Bonding

What it is

Robert Provine's observations of laughter in public places found that it falls at the ends of phrases, that speakers laugh more than listeners, and that most of what comes before a laugh is not funny. Robin Dunbar proposes that laughter let early humans bond with several people at once and presents evidence that it engages the brain's endorphin system. Steven Pinker adds that open laughter creates common knowledge that a remark is meant in play.

In effect

In the article on why we laugh, it is the main answer: laughter is mostly about the relationship between the people laughing.

What it does not say

It does not say humour plays no part, and the evolutionary account is a proposal resting on indirect evidence.

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