The Best Medicine

The isolation necessitated by the Covid pandemic drastically curtailed social interaction but with all the changes this brought, perhaps one of the things that has not been highlighted is the reduction in laughter.

We are more likely to laugh with others than we are to laugh alone. Think about it: When was the last time you had a funny thought alone and laughed at it out loud??

Laughter is primarily a social activity. There is a yearning to laugh with others. Little wonder that during lockdown there was an exponential escalation of funny clips on social media platforms. We were sustained by them and this confirms our need to laugh even when things are not easy (maybe especially when things are not easy). I am always amazed at how quickly people compose and upload funny clips to share within minutes of a news story. ?

Is it possible perhaps that we laugh because others do? Laughter is contagious. Just as we start yawning when someone else yawns, most people can’t help but laugh when those around them do. This explains why comedy shows on TV resort to ‘canned’ laughter when the studio audience is absent. It’s almost as if we need to be reminded to laugh. Indeed, there are occasions when feigned laughter, develops into the real thing.

If everyone is laughing, that is usually a sign that things are going well, and laughter has been shown to release endorphins and improve physical and psychological health.

It’s no wonder that all the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) have a version of the name Isaac – a name whose meaning is ‘one who laughs’ or ‘one who rejoices’

We need to engender laughter in our teams and our organisations. Could this be one of the tonics we need to ensure that we reconnect and re-invigorate our teams?

A unique Epidemic?

Laughter is of course not always an expression of enjoyment or pleasure. Many years ago, I asked for honest feedback from a manager who I also regarded as a friend. Beware! Feedback from friends is often the most brutal. One of her observations and concerns was that when things are not going well, I often smiled or even uttered a brief laugh rather than put on a more sombre expression. What did she want? Tears? I have never been able to ‘correct’ this flaw in my character!

Laughter isn’t just an expression of joy; it can be a signal of nervousness or distress, spurred on by stress, anger or sadness. Laughter is one of body’s best mechanisms for dealing with stress.

We may laugh together and laughter may be catching but there are examples of laughter epidemics of which the most famous example happened in Tanzania (then Tanganyika) in 1962. Tanganyika laughter epidemic - Wikipedia

The epidemic started in a girl’s school and very quickly spread to surrounding schools and villages eventually affecting 14 schools and 1000 people. Symptoms lasted for up to 16 days and included fainting, flatulence, respiratory problems, rashes, crying and screaming.

Although there is almost a comedic sense and a lack of understanding of such an epidemic, there is widespread agreement that this was a mass psychogenic or sociogenic illness triggered by stress.

While rare, the laughter epidemic of Tanzania is by no means unique. Similar incidents have been recorded in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and South Africa. In all these situations, the outbreaks occur among those who are undergoing extreme stress without any other means to respond.

It’s difficult to think that something as innocuous as laughter would be associated with anything but positive outcomes. But whilst there is a need to encourage genuine laughter, it’s also worth noting that some use laughter and smiles as a cover. Some even use it as a weapon. Think of the Joker or the menacing clown.

Comedy sometimes hides despair. Many comedians confess to some really dark moments despite the smiles they share and the laughter they encourage. For me Robin Williams is one illustration of this. A reminder that we need to understand our colleagues and encourage genuine laughter and joy but see through any covers they may have and offer support if required. Show we care.

In conclusion, as we move into the era of hybrid working (home and office) where we are forced to plan our interactions, we need to find substitutes for the trivial sometimes idiotic and situational laughs from everyday moments so that we do not lose the capability to laugh with colleagues. Laughter has the power to uplift, to connect and to heal. However, we also need to remember that things aren’t always as they seem and so we need to be supportive of colleagues that may be struggling.

Genuine and shared laughter sustains us all and it needs to be encouraged and stimulated so long as its not at the expense of others and provided that we are always alert to identifying the real thing.