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Humor as a process of defense: the evolution of laughing

This paper is on the origins of laughing and the relation of laughing to humor within the context of evolution. It is suggested that laughing has its origins in an early nonhuman protective response which developed into a more sophisticated and diverse behavior within the context of increasingly complex social andsymbolic conditions. 'Humor ous' and 'hysterical' laughing are distinguished äs different kinds of defensive processes, both associated with laughing and the mediation ofattention. Some relations between smiling, laughing, and humor are explored, especially in connection with the evolution of social and symbolic life. Presence and absence of mind in laughter A while ago, a Situation comedy on American TV featured a man bewitched by a spell that causes him to laugh at serious things and not to laugh at funny things. Understandably, this draws dubious looks from friends and neighbors. His wife attempts to cover for him: Oh, he's fine', she says. 'Laughter is a sign of good health, didn't you know?' A neighbor replies, skeptical and to the point, 'Yeah ... but only when there's something to laugh at.' Indeed, although laughing is often 'the best medicine' and a sign of good health, inappropriate or unaccountable laughter is commonly a mark of the insane. Such polarized association is remarkable. How is laughing appropriate to such different — even opposite — states äs humor and hysteria? How is it that laughter can at one time imply health and the intelligence of wit and at another time imply the 'mindlessness' of insanity or a hysterical breakdown? Humor 1-1 (1988), 63-80. 0933-1719/88/0001-0063 $2.00 © Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin