WHY BABIES LAUGH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 50, Issue 3056, 31 March 1941, Page 2

WHY BABIES LAUGH

RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS

APPROACH OF FOOD THE FIRST

An investigation into the laughter of infants revealed that the approach of food was the first thing to make the test baby laugh. This occurred at the age of 39 days. The second cause of laughter was contagious. At ten weeks’ old the baby laughed in company with its parents. At twelve weeks laughter was caused by the sight of a bright, attractive object. It was not until six weeks later that the first spasm of real laughter occurred. This was due to a sharp reaction from mild fear. The child laughed, when it discovered that a simple shock was just a joke. At six months of age laughter was frequent and could be invoked by imitating the child’s actions or by the mere repetition of a catch-phrase. At seven months of age the first “intellectual” laughter was observed, the child responding with mirth when the father spoke in a falsetto voice.

The ninth cause of laughter appeared soon afterwards. This was inspired by the joy of accomplishing a difficult feat. The tenth and last cause of laughter was the discomfiture of others; this is the chief cause among adults.