Laughter helps humans survive

Just as two people don’t always find the same things funny, scientists have had different theories about why people laugh. According to a recent study, laughter may have helped keep humans safe for thousands of years .Carlo Valerio Bellieni, a researcher at the University of Siena in Italy, reviewed more than 150 studies about humor and laughter over the past 10 years. By combining their results, he concluded that laughter is typically a three-step process. First, there’s a surprising or unusual situation that makes someone confused or scared. Second, they realize the situation is harmless. Finally, laughing lets others know there’s nothing to worry about. Bellieni uses the example of Homer Simpson, a cartoon character from the animated show The Simpsons. When Homer falls off a roof, it seems like…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 153

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