Why Are Laughter And Crying So Similar?

Have you ever wondered why two of the human race's biggest emotional indicators, crying and laughter, sound so similar? Laughing, which is described as an audible expression of merriment or amusement is regulated by the brain. The shedding of tears themselves can represent many different types of emotions. Some people cry when they are extremely angry. Conversely, some cry when they are delighted. But heavy crying, also referred to as "weeping", seems to elicit the same sounds as a hearty laugh. There are a few physiological reasons why these two acts sometimes sound (and look) eerily similar. But here are a few other theories...

Opposites Attract : A Study of "Dichotomy"

The concept that opposites attract holds true in many instances. In fact, this abstract concept applies in many different ways. For example, the color black is typically associated with all things dark, evil, and generally bad. White, on the other hand, is ususally delegated to represent happy, clean things. As luck would have it, these two completely opposite colors have something quite grand in common: neither white nor black is an actual "color." They simply represent the absorption and reflection of light, respectively. Another pair of opposites also shares similarities: babies and the elderly. Many people draw parallels between babies and the very elderly, and the type of care that they sometimes require. Keeping this in mind, the same mode of thinking might apply where crying and laughing is concerned. While these two acts are generally considered opposites of one another, very often they occur at the same time, with people ending huge bouts of laughter in a fit of happy tears. Another example of this dichotomy has been witnessed in movies (particularly scary films) where a person in extreme distress exhibits these feelings by laughing hysterically. The nature of the situation might have dictated another reaction. But by showing a distressed person in a fit of hysteria, movie directors are able to exact a certain mood with viewers.

Physiological Similarities

Aside from the fact that people sometimes cry when they laugh (and vice versa), there are quite a few physiological similarities between both deeds. For one thing, both laughing and weeping require the stomach muscles to be used. Thus, both of these actions strengthen these muscle groups. Additionally, it could be said that one should see a funny movie after having dinner, because medical studies have shown that laughter after eating lowers blood sugar. Another similarity between crying and laughing is that they both release toxins from the body. That being said, it is no wonder that these two bodily functions sound so much alike when being performed.

Emotional Connections

Think about all the instances where something happened to elicit a smile from you. Certainly you can recall one or two of these, perhaps many more. But it is more common for crying or laughter to be centered around much more intense circumstances. While people respond to external stimuli in different ways, for the most part it is the extreme event that sets off either a litany of tears or guffaws.

Speaking of emotions, both of these actions help human beings to express the powerful feelings that they happen to be dealing with at the moment. It is for this reason that comedies and tear-jerkers (often called "chick flicks") are so popular in theaters. Additionally, this is why many therapists advise their patients to release their pent-up emotions by crying as hard as they can. Notice how after you have had a good solid cry, you immediately feel a bit "lighter." As with laughter, weeping helps people to relieve themselves of stress.

Weeping and laughing are functions that humans engage in, perceivably, when they are most "vulnerable." This is perhaps one of the reasons why there are so many similarities between the two both in sound and feeling. These two actions often amaze people, because the stimuli needed to induce both is frequently invisible. Though tickling and bodily pain are physical acts capable of inducing laughter or weeping, people are more often motivated to laugh or cry by for emotional reasons.