IN HIS HEAD IT PLAYED OUT DIFFERENTLY VOL79The laughter that comes from witnessing someone trip, fall, or get hurt, even in circumstances where we know we shouldn't laugh, is an interesting and complex phenomenon that has been studied by psychology and neuroscience.
One possible scientific explanation for this phenomenon is the incongruity theory. According to this theory, laughter in response to incongruous or unexpected situations, such as seeing someone trip, could be a way to relieve tension or stress generated by the discrepancy between our expectations and reality. Our brain quickly processes the information, and when we perceive a discrepancy between what we expected and what actually happened, it can trigger a laughter response as a way to relieve emotional tension.
Furthermore, some studies suggest that laughter in response to others' pain may be a form of misunderstood empathy. In other words, we might laugh as an instinctive way to show solidarity or emotional connection with the person who got hurt, although this expression of empathy may be perceived incorrectly.
It has also been suggested that laughter in these situations may be a form of social response, especially in situations where others are laughing. Laughter can be contagious, and in a social environment where others are laughing, we may join in the laughter as a form of social conformity or to avoid feeling excluded.
In summary, laughter in response to situations where someone falls or gets hurt may be the result of a combination of factors, including the incongruity between our expectations and reality, misunderstood empathy, and the influence of the social environment.
# Watch videos
The slow motion of the day.