Is Laughter Making Your Relationship a Joke?
Study explores the link between humor and relationship satisfaction
We all know that laughter can be an important part of our initial attraction to a potential partner, and once we’re with someone, sharing a laugh is an important part of being happy in the relationship. But did you know that the way we handle laughter with our partner can also influence how satisfied we are in a relationship?
According to psychologist René Proyer, there are three ways that people handle laughter in relationships:
- They may be afraid to be laughed at because they view it as something derogatory toward them.
- They may enjoy being laughed at and do things to provoke this response from other people in order to get the attention and appreciation they want.
- They may use laughter as a weapon by making other people the butt of their jokes.
“These three characteristics are personality traits that can occur at the same time, to varying degrees and in different combinations. They can range, for example, from making harmless jokes to ridiculing others,” Proyer explained. “All of these characteristics are normal, up to a certain point — including being afraid of being laughed at.”
