Long before humans learned to speak, write or tell stories around a campfire, they were probably laughing.
It may sound surprising, but scientists now believe laughter is one of humanity's oldest forms of communication, older than language itself and inherited from an ancient ancestor shared with chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans millions of years ago.
The research offers a fascinating insight into one of the simplest things we do every day and suggests laughter may have helped shape human society long before words existed.
Older Than Humanity
Evolutionary biologists believe laughter originated between 10 and 16 million years ago, well before the emergence of modern humans.
Studies comparing humans with great apes have found striking similarities in the sounds made during play and tickling.
While today's laughter often accompanies jokes and humour, scientists believe its original purpose had little to do with comedy.
Instead, laughter evolved as a way of saying one simple thing: "We're safe."
A Signal of Trust
Researchers believe early laughter developed during rough play.
Young apes and young children both laugh while wrestling, chasing and being tickled. The laughter signalled that although the activity resembled fighting, no harm was intended. That simple sound helped prevent play from escalating into real conflict.
Over millions of years, the signal became one of nature's most effective ways of building trust between individuals.
Before Words Came Community
Professor Robin Dunbar, one of the world's leading evolutionary psychologists, believes laughter became a type of "social glue."
Among monkeys and apes, social bonds are strengthened by grooming one another.
But as early human groups grew larger, physically grooming every member of the group became impossible. Laughter solved that problem. Instead of grooming one individual at a time, a single laugh could connect an entire group.
Scientists have found that genuine laughter releases endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals helping strengthen friendships and social connections.
It's Rarely About Jokes
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that most laughter has very little to do with humour. Research shows people laugh far more often during ordinary conversation than while listening to comedians.
A laugh can communicate friendship, agreement, reassurance, relief, belonging, politeness and nervousness.
Without saying a word, it tells others they are accepted.
The Hawkesbury Connection
Anyone who has spent time volunteering, local sporting clubs, community organisations or schools will recognise the importance of shared laughter.
Whether it's around the barbecue after a fundraising day, between calls during an emergency response, or over a cup of tea following a community meeting, laughter helps build relationships.
It is often the first sign strangers are becoming friends. Perhaps that explains why communities like the Hawkesbury, built on volunteering and neighbour helping neighbour, value humour so highly.
More Than Entertainment
Scientists now believe laughter played an important role in human evolution.
It helped build cooperation. It reduced conflict. It strengthened families and communities. Ultimately, it may even have laid the foundations for language itself.
Today, despite living in an age of smartphones, artificial intelligence and social media, humans still instinctively laugh together. The sound crosses cultures, languages and generations. Unlike words, laughter requires no translation.
One of Humanity's Oldest Traditions
Modern Australians often celebrate the "Aussie sense of humour" as part of the national character.
From country pubs and sporting clubs to volunteer fire brigades and family gatherings, shared laughter remains one of the ways communities come together.
Scientists now believe there is a good reason for that. Long before our ancestors could tell stories or deliver speeches, they had already discovered something remarkably powerful.
Sometimes, the simplest sound in the world was enough to tell everyone around them: "You belong here."
Five Fascinating Facts About Laughter
- Humans probably inherited laughter from a common ancestor shared with chimpanzees more than 10 million years ago.
- People laugh much more during ordinary conversations than when listening to jokes.
- Laughter releases endorphins, strengthening social bonds.
- Babies begin laughing months before they can speak.
- Scientists believe laughter evolved before language and helped early humans build trust and cooperation.
For more information see Communications Biology published by Nature Portfolio
