Humor / Laughter: studies

Humor has been found to play an integral role in the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships as well as a pervasive aspect of our daily lives. Surprisingly little is known, however, about the ways in which individuals determine when to use or not use humor. Further, no theoretical framework currently exists to help corral the somewhat harried subject.

http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/Guinsler%20Natalie.pdf?osu1211929903

Laughter can play key roles in group communication and group dynamics -- even when there's nothing funny going on.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100824103525.htm

Keyton says. "We're interested in how people communicate within a group in order to accomplish a task, and we saw this as an opportunity to explore the role of laughter in how people signal support -- or lack of support -- for other people's positions within a group." Keyton notes that there is very little research on the role of laughter in communication, particularly when divorced from humor.

The researchers learned that laughter could be used as a tool, intentionally and strategically, to control communication and affect group dynamics.

Laughter matters, even when it is a serious group task... it is natural, but we try to suppress it in formal settings. So, when it happens, it's worth closer examination.