We laugh because we like people

Published Sep 23, 2015

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London - If you’re looking for a mate with a good sense of humour, their ability to tell a joke may be less important than you think.

For scientists say that whether we laugh or not depends more on how much we like a person than if they really are funny.

Sophie Scott, a professor of neuroscience at University College London, said: ‘You hear women say, I really fancy him, he really makes me laugh.

‘What she means is, he’s really attractive and I laugh because I fancy him. It’s to do with how much they like him.’

She told the British Science Festival in Bradford that laughter seems to have its roots deep in evolution, and remains ‘extremely socially important’.

‘When you laugh with people you show you agree with them,’ she said. ‘You are showing you like them – if you didn’t you would withhold that laughter.’

Daily Mail

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