A TAXONOMY OF LAUGHTER

OUTER LAUGHTER ( social laughter) INNER LAUGHTER ( non-social laughter)

Categorized by laughs projected out to Identified by a lack of projecting to others. Laughter which reflects filtered others. Laughter which could reflect image of self. true image of self. Superficial laughter which represents a barrier from actual desire or feelings.
STATUS BASED GROUP LOW RISK LAUGHTER

Genuine laughter which likely comes from a person whos been accessed and expresses a true desire or feeling.

OP
Outer Protect Attempt High Status (attempt to protect) Alpha Laugh I acknowledge this funny joke but really Im laughing to let others know Im here. - protect status - protect from being alienated - protect image or reputation Im In on the Joke Laugh That was a reference to a thing I know! I want you to know that I know! -protect Intellectual Status
Ooh I Saw That Coming Laugh Nice. I appreciate that joke but I wasnt surprised. You cant fool me!

- protect Intellectual Status

STATUS BASED GROUP HIGH RISK LAUGHTER

IP
Inner Protect AKA Inner Conflict Not Breaking the Seal Laugh I have the urge to laugh but the theater is full and I dont want to be the first. - protect against standing out - risk involves crowd dynamics - to laugh would be called breaking the seal - lower risk by fighting urge - wait for someone else to Inappropriate Laugh - verbal laugh but not communicating - cover head or mouth with hands - protect against being found out - protect public image - hide selfs relation to taboo from others - outer laugh embarrasses self - communicating to others but not through the laugh itself

General Inner Protect Laugh So wrong. Why am I laughing at this? - express conflicting values AKA cognitive dissonance - protect self or ego - protect self-status - protect self-image -laughter surprises the ego

ON
Outer Nurture Attempt Low Status (attempt to nurture) Pity Laugh - nurture others ego - nurture feelings, the relationship, other's sense of status Nervous Laugh - nurture situation - nurture empathy Crisis Bonding Laugh - request help

IN
Inner Nurture *The author cannot be certain if examples exist in this theoretical category. While it makes sense for the ego to protect itself the author has yet to see evidence of the ego nurturing itself. Within the ego, protecting & nurturing are identical. Once nurturing examples are found & tested this category will be included.

EMOTION BASED GROUP MID RISK LAUGHTER

Humans ping back and forth about each others emotional states. Typically barriers of self-image must first be crossed. For safety, emotions can be projected before they are even present in a person.

OW
Outer Weak To Test or Appeal Appeal about Emotion (attempt to appeal) Test / Appeal Laugh: - appeal about safety - test to see that protection is unnecessary - test to see that nurturing is unnecessary - appeal to others about our emotional state - appeal about joy - test that no status needs to be negotiated

OS
Outer Strong To Assure or Confirm Assure of Emotion (attempt to assure) Social Assurance Laugh: - assure there's no real threat - assure of safety - assure protection is unnecessary - assure nurturing is unnecessary - assure others of our emotional state - assure of joy - assure that no status needs to be negotiated EMOTION BASED GROUP HIGH RISK LAUGHTER

IW
Inner Weak To Test or Appeal Appeal about Emotion (attempt to appeal) Test Self or Appeal to Self: - appeal to self about safety - test self that there's no real threat - test self of emotional state - appeal about joy - test self that no action is necessary

IS
Inner Strong To Assure or Confirm Assure of Emotion (attempt to assure) Self Assurance Laugh: - assure there's no real threat - assure self of safety - assure self that protection is unnecessary - assure nurturing is unnecessary - assure self of our emotional state - assure of joy - assure that no status needs to be negotiated

IE
Inner Euphoria General Euphoria Experience: - begins as warm feeling - grows and grows inside - an emotional state that cannot be faked - unknown, mysterious, almost like a drug state