LaughingTogether · Laughing together: the role of laughter and interpersonal synchrony in bonding and cooperation

Laughing together: the role of laughter and interpersonal synchrony in bonding and cooperation

This research project aims to understand why humans laugh and how laughter helps to bond with others, both in adults and in children. Laughter is a unique vocalization that often happens during play, when we're tickled, or in conversations. It's contagious, meaning just hearing someone laugh can make us laugh too. The project suggests that laughter creates a special connection between people by making them synchronize their behavior, their neural activity and their physiological activity. This synchronization, called interpersonal synchrony, makes communication and cooperation easier. This project's aim was to find out if laughter, through interpersonal synchrony, helps people cooperate and get along better, by studying both adults and preschool children. The project has two main parts: one focusing on adults and one on preschool children. In both cases, the project investigates whether laughing together leads to greater interpersonal synchronization and better cooperation. Overall, the project aims to uncover how laughter brings people together and how it affects our relationships from childhood to adulthood. This project holds significance for several reasons: by delving into the role of laughter in human interactions, the project sheds light on fundamental aspects of social bonding and cooperation. Understanding how laughter fosters connection can provide insights into building healthier and more fulfilling relationships, which is essential for societal well-being. Moreover, investigating how laughter influences cooperation can have practical implications for various social contexts, such as workplaces, schools, and communities. Discovering how laughter enhances cooperation may offer strategies for promoting teamwork, empathy, and mutual support in diverse settings. Finally, studying laughter in preschool children provides valuable insights into early social development. Understanding how laughter influences peer interactions and friendship formation can inform educational practices and interventions aimed at fostering positive social skills and emotional development in children. Overall, this project has the potential to enrich our understanding of human behavior, improve social interactions, and contribute to the promotion of healthier, more connected communities.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз