What are the benefits of laughter?

"From a psychological point of view, laughter is a non-verbal language that communicates emotions, intentions, and a sense of belonging. Laughing is one of the first things we learn to do. Even before speaking, infants laugh. They do so instinctively, as a response to touch, play, or a smiling face.

Unlike verbal language, laughter does not need to be taught; it arises autonomously. In this sense, it is not merely a reaction to something funny but a true form of emotional expression, a psychological need, and a signal of mental well-being," says Dr. Ricceri.

"Laughter also helps regulate emotions: it reduces tension, creates a shared emotional climate, and allows us to manage difficult or ambiguous situations more flexibly," explains the psychotherapist.

Contrary to popular belief, laughter doesn’t only express happiness. "It can be a way to manage anxiety, process pain, express aggression in socially acceptable ways (like sarcasm), or to confront highly stressful moments," he continues.

"In therapy, it's common to see patients laugh while recounting traumatic experiences, not out of superficiality, but as a psychic strategy to make the unspeakable sayable, and emotionally bearable. Laughter becomes an emotional survival tool, an attempt to detach from an overwhelming feeling that the psyche can't yet contain."

Laughter can also become a manipulative strategy, consciously or unconsciously used by someone to deflect uncomfortable questions or delay responses to sensitive topics.

There are various types of laughter. Two examples include:

• Laughter that expresses well-being and bonding, which strengthens interpersonal connections.
• Laughter that signals embarrassment, revealing discomfort or fear. This can mark the beginning of psychological withdrawal from a situation and acts as a pause or a protective buffer between people.

Dr. Ricceri outlines eight health benefits associated with laughter:

1. It reduces stress

"Laughter is a real release valve. Physiologically, it promotes muscle relaxation and lowers cortisol (the stress hormone). When we laugh, we reset the body: breathing deepens, heart rate stabilizes, the mind feels lighter. Even observing someone laugh can trigger a mirror effect in our brain, offering instant benefit."

2. It improves mood

This is well-documented in psychology and psychiatry. "Laughter stimulates the production of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, neurotransmitters linked to pleasure, motivation, and well-being. Even a small laugh can noticeably boost your mood." A spontaneous laugh, when genuine, is a powerful well-being strategy that can enhance quality of life.

3. It's a communication strategy in difficult moments

"Humor is one of the most refined forms of emotional intelligence. Those who can laugh, even at their own hardships, show a flexible, resilient mind. Laughter doesn’t deny problems; it reframes them and strips them of their power. In clinical settings, the moment a patient can joke about something painful often marks a breakthrough, it signals a shift from passive victimhood to active reflection."

4. It strengthens social bonds

"Laughing together creates connection. It fosters empathy, reciprocity, and inclusion. In therapy groups, shared laughter dissolves shame and builds an atmosphere of authenticity. In daily life, laughing with a partner or friends is an emotional glue. We laugh with those we trust, laughter is a barometer of safety."

5. It reduces pain

"Research shows that laughter raises pain tolerance by increasing endorphin release. Symbolically, it also shifts the perception of suffering. In some chronic pain therapies, introducing humorous or playful moments has improved patients' quality of life. Psychologically integrated approaches, including therapeutic laughter, can support physical, emotional, communicative, and relational well-being."

6. It stimulates creativity

"Humor breaks rigid logic, introduces unexpected connections, and fosters divergent thinking. In psychodynamic therapy, humorous metaphors or imagery help patients break out of mental loops. Laughter makes the mind more flexible, more open to the new, the unexpected, the possible."

7. It promotes better sleep

"Laughing before bed lowers physiological arousal linked to anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Evening routines that include light moments (like a comedy, a funny book, or a call with a loved one) can improve sleep onset and quality. Reintroducing small daily rituals of lightness can be a simple but effective tool against insomnia."

8. It’s a therapeutic ally

"In psychotherapy, laughter isn't a distraction it can be a powerful ally. Laughing during a session may signal therapeutic alliance, a moment of shared truth, or emotional release. In rehabilitation units for eating disorders laughter is used in expressive groups or occupational workshops to help patients reconnect with their bodies, with pleasure, and with their vital sense of self. Even in highly structured therapies, the ability to introduce lightness at the right moment can facilitate deeper emotional processing."

Dr. Ricceri also addresses the "dark side" of laughter, particularly when it becomes a social obligation, leading to what psychology calls the false self: adopting a socially acceptable persona (the jokester, the cheerful one, the always-smiling figure) to avoid vulnerability and emotional exposure.

Smiling constantly can become a shield that avoids genuine dialogue and emotional intimacy, because these require showing one's true self.

“We live in a culture that idolizes positivity one that urges us to always smile, be upbeat, motivated, and productive. But when laughter becomes an obligation, something breaks. When we smile to avoid disappointing others or to dodge judgment, we betray our true feelings. Over time, this can lead us to lose touch with what we genuinely feel. Forced laughter is a mask. It’s not well-being, it’s adaptation. It’s not lightness, it’s repression. In clinical work, it's crucial to create spaces where people are not expected to laugh, but are free to do so or not to, at all,” says Ricceri.

From laughter yoga to clown therapy, there are intentional practices designed to trigger laughter as a method to restore well-being. These techniques aim to induce laughter proactively, not as a response to a stimulus, but as a conscious action, often done individually. Scientifically validated, they are used in many international hospitals and care settings, including home care, to relieve stress and anxiety in patients with various conditions.

Dr. Ricceri elaborates: “There are structured practices that use laughter intentionally, with both sensitivity and rigor. One is laughter yoga, developed in India, which combines breathing exercises with self-induced laughter. The body starts, and the mind follows. It’s a space where laughter is not a reaction, but a form of mindful play, connection, and presence.”

Another example is clown therapy, widely used in pediatric wards (and beyond). “Hospital clowns don’t just bring joy, they bring connection, attention, and humanity. Often, with a joke, a clumsy gesture, or an upside-down view of the world, they create a space where a child can just be a child, not only a patient. And for parents, too, that brief moment of laughter can open a window, a moment where the burden feels lighter.”