Why We Laugh When Nervous: The Brain’s Unusual Coping Mechanism For Stress

Laughter, for us, is a sign of happiness, joy, and humour that comes from the things, events, or people we like or find amusing. However, you might have noticed that a reaction occurs in your brain and you find yourself laughing when you are nervous or in any other discomfort or stress, even when you know it is inappropriate. This phenomenon occurs when our emotions are heightened but not positively or happily. Then why do we laugh? The answer to this question is hidden in the complexities of the human brain and its ways of dealing with stressful situations.

The Role of the Brain

Various regions of the brain are involved in this process. The frontal lobe is responsible for our cognitive functions like memory, problem-solving, thinking, reasoning, etc. Therefore, it plays a key role in understanding and responding to the social cues from the environment. The amygdala plays a significant role in emotional regulation and perceiving threats in the surroundings. Furthermore, the hypothalamus controls bodily and motor functioning and triggers the reaction which in this case is laughing.

Laughing releases endorphins in our body which is referred to as the ‘happy hormone’. This happy hormone provides a sense of well-being and joy, helping in reducing pain. It also reduces cortisol levels. Cortisol is released when stress levels are high. This mechanism gives a feeling of comfort and explains the phenomenon of laughter in nervous situations, even when it might not be a suitable response. We may use laughter to assure ourselves that there is no real threat or danger. 

Psychological Theories Behind Nervous Laughter

Several psychologists have given different theories as to why this reaction occurs. Some of those theories are

Incongruity Theory of Humor

According to this theory, we view the world just as we perceive it. Therefore, when a gap or mismatch arises between our perception of the situation and the reality of the same situation, our brain might find the absurdity of that moment humorous, leading to nervous laughter. Our brain is unable to comprehend the unpredictability of that circumstance.

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon where conflicting attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours lead to mental discomfort. People try to reduce this discomfort and cognitive dissonance and they do not want that discomfort to show on their face or through their body language in a social setting. Hence, it might lead to nervous laughter, so as to make people around them believe that they are composed.

Relief Theory

This theory by Freud suggests that laughter is to a situation what the pressure-relief valve is to a cooker. It releases pent-up emotional energy. Therefore, in this context, laughter serves as a valve to release some of the emotional tension in a stress-elevating or fearful situation.

Is This Behavior Completely Inappropriate?

The answer to this question, unfortunately, is not a straight one. This mechanism has both adaptive and maladaptive sides.

The Adaptive Side

• Laughter might help one to regulate their emotions and effectively deal with them as we try to replace negative emotions with a positive one.
• It may also help us to calm down and think rationally as it might help one to achieve the state of ‘homeostasis’, i.e. balance.
• Some professionals have also considered it one of the most effective coping mechanisms. Once we can laugh about something uncomfortable, we can get over it effectively. 
• When people feel discomfort, it may lead to impairment in their adaptive functioning. Laughter helps them to control that discomfort and keep functioning normally.

The Maladaptive Side

• This response should not become a go-to response for all uncomfortable situations. It might impair our social relationships.
• While your brain is focused on your emotional regulation, it might hamper your presence of mind that is currently required in that particular situation and you may not be able to react accordingly.
• It might impact your relationships negatively and create misunderstandings.
• When this response becomes automatic, it is often out of our control and hence may come off as highly inappropriate. 
• It can lead to rejection and disapproval of others, which will further elevate stress and anxiety rather than reduce it.

Finding the Balance

It is crucial to find a balance between the adaptive and maladaptive side of nervous laughter. While it may provide a temporary relief to think straight, it may also lead to misinterpretations by people in one’s social setting.

Self-awareness

Increasing self-awareness might be an effective way to find this balance. Note the situations where the nervous laughter arises and reflect on your emotions in that particular situation. When you recognize the triggers, management becomes much easier.

Coping Strategies

While nervous laughter itself is a coping mechanism, try other effective ones which are not open to misinterpretation and preferably are not in a social setting. Try journaling, engaging in hobbies, physical activities, etc. When your mind is calm, it is less likely to lead to nervous laughter.

Use the Power of Laughter Appropriately

Laughter is a really powerful tool and hence when used appropriately, can be effective. Sharing it with people close to you can enhance your interpersonal relationships and give you a sense of belongingness.

Seek Professional Help

If you feel like this phenomenon of nervous laughter is interfering with your everyday life and social situations and feels like it is out of control, no matter how hard you try, consult a professional. They might help you to navigate the underlying causes and come up with tailored and effective mechanisms.

Conclusion

All of us have experienced nervous laughter at some point in our lives. Being distressed is a complex phenomenon and might require more time to get processed. While this is a natural response, it might get misinterpreted at times. There are both adaptive and maladaptive sides to this. When we understand all the underlying phenomena behind this mechanism, it is easier to be empathetic towards others as well as towards ourselves.