Basil H Hall - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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Russian academy of sciences, Peter the Great Museum of Antropology and Ethnography
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The intellectual journey that ends in a scientifically verifiable theory often begins with many s... more The intellectual journey that ends in a scientifically verifiable theory often begins with many seemingly disparate philosophical musings. This is an essay, rather than a scientific paper as it includes a great deal of philosophy based on my own observations and thoughts. I have included the philosophy, not only because I believe the studies of humor and laughter are at the stage where they would benefit from some bold speculation, but also because it constitutes the rough map of how I arrive at my ultimate destination -a science based hypothesis.
In this essay I hypothesize that the laughter elicited by the processing of what we characterize ... more In this essay I hypothesize that the laughter elicited by the processing of what we characterize as humorous events is an exapted vocal fight-or-flight displacement response. The circumstances in which displacement activities and laughing occur, and their general physiological effects, are compared, and neurophysiological evidence connecting laughter to "fight or flight" responses is presented. The relationship between laughter and humor is examined and an argument put forward against the use of the word "humor" other than as a heading of a general study as it defies any clear definition that can be meaningfully applied outside its cultural usage. The nature of the basic conflicts that cause animals and humans to indulge in displacement activities is considered in the context of joke structure, content and emotive effects. The endorphin/ laughter controversy is discussed and a possible explanation of laughter's immunological effects is given.
The intellectual journey that ends in a scientifically verifiable theory often begins with many s... more The intellectual journey that ends in a scientifically verifiable theory often begins with many seemingly disparate philosophical musings. This is an essay, rather than a scientific paper as it includes a great deal of philosophy based on my own observations and thoughts. I have included the philosophy, not only because I believe the studies of humor and laughter are at the stage where they would benefit from some bold speculation, but also because it constitutes the rough map of how I arrive at my ultimate destination -a science based hypothesis.
In this essay I hypothesize that the laughter elicited by the processing of what we characterize ... more In this essay I hypothesize that the laughter elicited by the processing of what we characterize as humorous events is an exapted vocal fight-or-flight displacement response. The circumstances in which displacement activities and laughing occur, and their general physiological effects, are compared, and neurophysiological evidence connecting laughter to "fight or flight" responses is presented. The relationship between laughter and humor is examined and an argument put forward against the use of the word "humor" other than as a heading of a general study as it defies any clear definition that can be meaningfully applied outside its cultural usage. The nature of the basic conflicts that cause animals and humans to indulge in displacement activities is considered in the context of joke structure, content and emotive effects. The endorphin/ laughter controversy is discussed and a possible explanation of laughter's immunological effects is given.