Physical Reactions to Emotion, or...

[RoJoHen]

Why do we laugh?

I've always thought emotional reactions were weird. They're not learned reactions. We do them almost as soon as we're born. We cry when we're upset. We laugh and smile when we're happy.

Hell, sometimes we laugh so hard that it causes us pain. Why would our bodies be designed that way?

 

[Roger Wilco]

Well, I think for babies it's evolutionarily developed survival mechanisms; crying when they are hungry or hurt, to make it's parents pay attention; smiling to improve bonding etc.

For adults, I don't know. Humour is mostly learned I think, but smiling and laughing is kind of universal, isn't it?

 

[RoJoHen]

For adults, I don't know. Humour is mostly learned I think, but smiling and laughing is kind of universal, isn't it?

And that's kind of my point. Why is it universal? Why would happiness or humor cause us to smile? Why does sadness make our eyes water?

 

[iguana_tonante]

The fact that those reactions are universal to the human species means that they are biologically driven. Now, as for the reason for any singular expression, I don't know it. I remember reading a paper on that some time ago, but I don't remember much. I will try and find it.

 

[FordSVT]

Many animals use body language to communicate, and we needed some way to talk to each other before the written and spoken word. Waving your arms around and grunting with a blank face doesn't cut it.

Between 50% and 70% of all first hand, interpersonal communication is through body language. A smaller percentage is vocal (tone, pitch, etc.), and only 5-10% of the information we gather is through the actual words we're listening to. We're hardwired for body language and simple auditory cues, not unlike most animals. It's why things like sarcasm in writing can be hard to pick up on without using things like emoticons. It's why talking on the phone simply feels more personal than email.

 

[Mr Awe]

[shrug] They're just genetically programmed into humans. Why is that hard to understand?

Mr Awe

 

[FordSVT]

[shrug] They're just genetically programmed into humans. Why is that hard to understand?

Mr Awe

Well ... the question is why we have certain physical reactions to emotions. What evolutionary purpose do they serve, or how can certain reactions that seem like a hindrance get a passing grade by evolutionary forces? Metaphorically speaking of course.

 

[Mr Awe]

^^ You avoid the bad things and want the good things all the more. For instance, you feel grief when someone dies. Very strong grief. You have all the incentive in the world to keep those close to you alive. Those close to you are more likely to have the same DNA that you have. DNA which made you have those reactions. Hence, it helps with human survival AND helps spread specifically the genes that produce that reaction.

Mr Awe

 

[FordSVT]

^Exactly, and it's nice of you to join the conversation instead of shrugging your shoulders and asking us why we're bother to have it in the first place.

 

[Mr Awe]

^^^ Okaaaay. Maybe cut back on the coffee?

The question was why, and the answer is that it is genetic, rather to learned. I don't mind elaborating on that but, relax a bit, I just thought it was self explanatory enough to not need one.

 

[ThankQ]

Actually, emotions CAN be learned reactions.

You can think yourself from calm to angry, and back the other way.

A child might think a dog is cute, decide to go play with it, then get his leg chomped into. The next time he see's a dog, he's likely to have a LEARNED EMOTIONAL RESPONSE to that dog.

 

[Mr Awe]

^^ Sure. But I think we're more talking about why the physical reactions are the same all over. Smile = happy. Frown = sad. Crying, laughing, etc.

 

[ThankQ]

^I was replying to RoJo's:

I've always thought emotional reactions were weird. They're not learned reactions.

 

[T'Baio]

What's your address? I'll mail you my cognitive psyche and biopsyche text books.

 

[Michael Chris]

You're a textbook writer? That's cool! Can you buy them off the web?

 

[T'Baio]

No, no, no...the ones I learned / am learning from.



Sheesh...I wish.

 

[FordSVT]

^^^ Okaaaay. Maybe cut back on the coffee?

You need to ratchet the sensitivity meter down a bit there, Bub.

"It's genetics, it's obvious." Thanks for your post.

 

[RoJoHen]

^^ You avoid the bad things and want the good things all the more. For instance, you feel grief when someone dies. Very strong grief. You have all the incentive in the world to keep those close to you alive. Those close to you are more likely to have the same DNA that you have. DNA which made you have those reactions. Hence, it helps with human survival AND helps spread specifically the genes that produce that reaction.

Mr Awe

(fair warning, I'm a bit drunk)

Okay, yes, I understand all you're saying. But things like sadness: why does sadness make our eyes water? Why do we cry? What purpose does that serve? Sure, sadness is something we would naturally choose to avoid, but sometimes we can't help it. Why, then, does sadness make us cry.

Why does humor make us laugh? Why, when something is so funny, do we laugh so hard that it causes out abdomen to hurt, or our mouth to hurt? Why doesn't our body prevent us from experiencing that physical pain?

 

[ancientone51]

Don't remember where I learned/read/heard it (I'm 60, cut me some slack )
But...

Tears are a way of disposing of "bad" hormones quickly. Assumption is that whatever causes the the "painful" feelings cause the "bad" hormones.

Laughter releases good hormones, but too many too fast can hurt. When whatever occurs that we respond to with laughter, it triggers these hormoes.

I'm sure that this is garbled, but it is what I rcall from years ago schooling.

 

[ThankQ]

Don't remember where I learned/read/heard it (I'm 60, cut me some slack )
But...

Tears are a way of disposing of "bad" hormones quickly. Assumption is that whatever causes the the "painful" feelings cause the "bad" hormones.

Laughter releases good hormones, but too many too fast can hurt. When whatever occurs that we respond to with laughter, it triggers these hormoes.

I'm sure that this is garbled, but it is what I rcall from years ago schooling.

I do not doubt whatsoever that someone told you this in school, but it scares me to think biology would be communicated this way by a teacher.