OBJECTIVE To review the beneficial and harmful effects of laughter. DESIGN Narrative synthesis. DATA SOURCES AND REVIEW METHODS We searched Medline (1946 to June 2013) and Embase (1974 to June 2013) for reports of benefits or harms from laughter in humans, and counted the number of papers in each category. RESULTS Benefits of laughter include reduced anger, anxiety, depression, and stress...

There are very few jokes about sociologists. This is frustrating for the sociologists, especially if they compare themselves with their more favored second cousins, the psychologists, who have pretty much taken over that sector of American humor that used to be occupied by clergymen. A psychologist, introduced as such at a party, at once finds himself the object of considerable attention and un...

In the course of March 2020, Netherlands, Flanders, and a large part Europe were affected by first wave COVID-19 virus. For four months, population was in lockdown, many issues had to be handled online. Social media became important keep touch with air opinions. Two folktale genres, namely joke modern legend, used express frustrations, malicious pleasures, fears, feelings distrust. During wave,...

Previous studies show that autistic children fail tests of second-order belief attribution. They also fail tests of lying and deception. The present study used Leekam's (1988) joke-lie distinction task to test (a) understanding of second-order mental states (intention and belief) and (b) the ability to judge these acts as lies or jokes. Seventeen normal and 16 autistic children took part. Eight...