Survival Of The Friendliest!
Survival Of The Friendliest!
Survival Of The Friendliest!
Laughter and the biological need to fit in.
Humans are social creatures, and we have a fundamental desire to “belong.”
To reflect this need, we naturally form relationships to help us better understand who we are and where we fit into society.
We’ve even developed tools for creating stronger bonds (or at least the appearance of stronger bonds) to survive. One of which is laughter.
Spontaneous laughter, which emerges naturally in humans in the first few months of life, likely evolved from the laboured breathing that comes from play, a behaviour that’s present in many young mammals.
Laughing has no evolutionary benefit other than communicating to listeners that those laughing are friends. Some scholars suggest that laughter came to fruition as an evolutionary benefit, helping aid the survival of the fittest and friendliest of our ancestors. To underscore this hypothesis, scientists have discovered that even apes and chimpanzees are able to produce a fake laugh as a way to fit in and respond to the spontaneous laugh of others, and be a part of the ‘in-group.’
I hope you have enjoyed this information. Until next time!
Emma Alexander-Cook.
