Psychology says people who laugh when nervous are coping with anxiety, stress, or feeling socially exposed

Ever laughed at something serious and felt mortified? It's not a flaw, but your brain's way of handling overwhelming emotions ...
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Why you laugh when you feel uncomfortable and what your brain is really doing

You know that sudden, awkward giggle that slips out in the middle of a tense conversation or serious moment? It can feel strange, even embarrassing, to laugh when nothing is remotely funny. But this ...
Psychology Today

Why We Laugh When We're Nervous

If you’re paying close enough attention, you’ll easily recognize nervous laughter as incongruous to the situation—as mostly fake. And this despite the laugher’s actual intentions being largely ...
Willamette Week

“Nervous Laughter” Seeks Hilarity in Panic Attacks and Religious Trauma

Peter Lundquist needs comedy to survive. So he says in his new solo show Nervous Laughter, onstage now through Jan. 24 at 21ten Theatre, an autobiographical account of his childhood, mental health ...
Medical Xpress

How making children laugh can help brains become more resilient to struggle and open to learning

Making children laugh can build deep emotional connections and soothe their nervous systems, making them more resilient and open to new ideas, says a leading child development expert. Dr. Jacqueline ...

Every Time You Laugh, You're Echoing a Sound That's 15 Million Years Old

A new study found human laughter shares a 15-million-year-old rhythm with great apes, offering fresh clues about the ...