Why Comedy Works

Comedy works because it can heal us emotionally. Think about how you feel after experiencing an episode of gut wrenching laughter. Perhaps youve watched a funny movie or maybe youve attended a professional comedy show. Do you feel cleansed, renewed, and energized? If so, chances are that youve had a cathartic experience. According to Wikipedia, catharsis refers to a sudden emotional climax that evokes feelings of great laughter or any other extreme change in emotion, resulting in restoration, renewal and revitalization in members of the audience. These intense feelings of euphoria and good humor can last for up to 45 minutes afterward. The long term emotional benefits of laughter include a decrease in stress levels and a more relaxed attitude. Maybe if you laugh more frequently, youll find yourself cursing your boss under your breath less often and perhaps youll even altogether stop flipping the bird to all the other drivers on the freeway.
According to a study done at Texas A& M, comedy works because it makes us more hopeful. Scientists showed half of the test subjects a funny video; the other half of the participants viewed nothing. Participants who watched the laughter invoking video scored higher on a survey of hopefulness than their non-laughing counterparts. Laugh more and youll experience more hopefulness and with the often depressing affairs of the world today who couldnt use a little more hope in their daily lives?










