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Laughter Research


In the Laughter Research Podcast, I explore the phenomenon of laughter, from the fascinating science of laughter research, to the joys of laughing until you cry. The show is a mix of interviews and commentary by me - Glen Duggan. I've a Ph.D. in psychology, with a specialisation in laughter, so you could say that I have a serious interest in the topic.

My guests vary from academics, such as psychologists and sociologists, to entrepreneurs and comedians. In each episode I explore the role which laughter plays in our daily lives and I examine the truths and the myths around laughter. Is laughter purely a physiological response, or is it a social and culturally mediated means of communication?

Music by jasonshaw@audionautix.com

Aug 25, 2023

This episode is a review of a research paper by Angus James McLachlan of the Federation University, Australia. The basis of the research explored in today's episode was to examine how laughter is used by people as a marker in conversation to show that the meaning of the words aren’t meant to be serious in the context that they’re spoken (when accompanied by laughter) and also how the person doing the laughing is essentially trying to be friendly with the people they are chatting and laughing with.