Continued...
In case you missed part 2 of this thread, read it here >>> https://www.nairaland.com/2780361/why-laugh-part-2

Why Do Villains Laugh Diabolically?

Clearly, there are many different types of laughter. The explosion of laughter after being tickled is obviously different from the tight-lipped chuckle you force out of yourself when your boss tells a bad joke.

To account for the differences, some researchers divide laughter into two groups. The first includes spontaneous laughter. The other group includes laughter that is less spontaneous: it includes fake laughter, nervous laughter, and other social laughter that is unconnected to humor.Some argue that this nonspontaneous laughter might also include a diabolical cackle or the cruel, jeering laughter that we once heard on the playground.

"Laughter does have a dark side," says Provine. "When gangs or groups of militants attack someone, they are often reported to laugh while doing it."
It's the sinister aspect of laughter's power to form group cohesion. Sometimes, those bonds can be used to exclude or persecute others.

According to some researchers, these two types of laughter -- spontaneous and nonspontaneous -- actually have different origins in the brain.

The spontaneous laughter originates in part from the brainstem, an ancient part of the brain . So it might be a more original form of laughter. The other type of laughter comes from parts of the brain that developed more recently, in evolutionary terms.

Do Animals Laugh?
While humans might fancy themselves as the only animal capable of laughter, evidence suggests otherwise.
In fact, apes seem to laugh after a fashion. They make a distinctive open-mouthed 'play face' and pant rapidly."The 'ha, ha' noise of human laughter," Provine Said" ultimately has its origins in the ritualized panting laughter ofour primate ancestors."

Some researchers have found laugh-like behavior in other animals, even in the rat.
But it's not just coincidence that all stand-up comics have been human. While they may laugh, animals -- with the possible exceptions of some primates -- don't seem to have a sense of humor.

So if not at jokes, what do animals -- and what did our ancestors -- laugh at?

According to Provine, animal "laughter" follows tickling, rough and tumble play, or chasing games. Apes laugh at some of the same things that make infants laugh. While babies aren't known for subtle wit, they willsqueal and laugh when you chase them or tickle them.

In all likelihood, early adult humans -- before they started telling jokes -- laughed at the same sort of thing.Which leads us to an interesting conclusion:
Since predates speech, the first human laugh predated the first joke by hundreds of thousands or years, if not millions. It's a long time to wait for a punch line.

It's great time again with you. Hope you enjoyed this.
Stay tuned for the next part.
Meanwhile what's your contribution...

Credit: http://sciencezone12..com

In Justin's voice
"What do you mean"?