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You all know it. A quick giggle or smirk when a person falls. What triggers this? Why do we do it?

2007-10-16 14:39:35 · 41 answers · asked by hopie 2 in Social Science Psychology

41 answers

its funny

2007-10-16 14:42:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

Because we think always of how to be over and above others. And so with a thought that with one's misfortune we are better off or if we had that misfortune ourselves the other one is not better off compared to us. What triggers is the thought that we giggle and smirk in excitement. It could be also that we are depraved because the normal reaction is to feel at least some compassion towards a person in his/her situation. Doing so is against our nature and psychologically we could be thought of as a sadist.

This reaction could be normal for a child. But for grown ups this is already an abnormality. It could be that one is physically grown up but mentally immature. In a word, it could be considered as infantilism or childishness.

2007-10-16 14:55:10 · answer #2 · answered by Jun Agruda 7 · 2 0

That may be generalizing......When I see people fall or trip, I actually feel badly for them and almost want to go over, smile and say: Oh don't feel silly that's happened to me too.
I'm sure I am not the only one that feels that way.

Perhaps I would smile if someone was really rude to a salesgirl and then tipped off her own high heels as she walked away.

Misfortune is not funny. We are all in this together. What happens to one might happen to you next.

2007-10-16 14:45:07 · answer #3 · answered by Mrs. Moltisanti 3 · 0 0

It's just a reaction. Most people, when they see something awful happen, will react with a nervous laugh. I agree, some people are callous and laugh outright, but it's not the case with most people. They also laugh because they're glad it happened to someone else.
My husband ran into a plate glass door at a shopping centre once and I tried not to laugh but I couldn't help it. There he was holding his nose, blood pouring everywhere and I was laughing! I was trying so hard not to laugh that I started crying out of sympathy after the initial shock wore off.

2007-10-16 14:45:18 · answer #4 · answered by kiwi_mum1966 5 · 0 0

Sometimes other people's misfortunes look funny. Such as in the home video shows you see on television, where people often seem to sustain quite painful injuries, in the funniest of circumstances.

I think we laugh at the situation and not at the person per se. I dont think we're all that malicious. That's why slapstick comedy is so popular.

2007-10-16 14:44:26 · answer #5 · answered by concerned neighbor 5 · 2 0

It either makes us feel better, or we know that person and don't like them, or many other reasons.

The common thread is that I believe there is a relief, some small joy... that others,too, go through sh*t in life... that it's not just us.

To release that quick smile or smirk is to say, "Ok. I'm not the only one. We're all in the same boat."

2007-10-16 14:44:42 · answer #6 · answered by gabound75 5 · 0 0

We laugh (giggle, smirk, etc.) at others in such situations because all people are basically evil by nature, no matter how hard we all try to hide this fact. A man/woman frequently exercises his/her free will to do negative things, until and unless he/she learns who and what is his/her Creator, and learns His ways. This is only one reason we need our Savior, and to have a living relationship with Him. One of the great benefits of such a relationship is that we gradually improve ourselves out of respect for Him. One of the ways He helps us grow is to expose to us our simpleton, negative, sometimes hurtful ways of thinking, talking, and acting.

2007-10-16 15:06:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Well, not everyone does it, but some people, like myself, have the response of an inappropriate smirk. I don't know why, and I don't mean to do it. It's almost involuntary, but it also seems to precede a truly sad expression and crying. It may actually be my wince of pain, it just looks like a smirk.

2007-10-16 14:49:40 · answer #8 · answered by cavassi 7 · 1 0

Well, actually....the process is so quick we really don't notice what happens but this is how it goes. (My theory)

:When we see someone fall:
The first thing that happens is we evaluate almost instantaneously, is this fall serious? is this person badly hurt? will this person recover immediately?

If we perceive the fall to be of no real danger...
Then our brain then accepts this as a comical event and thus, induces laughter.

Otherwise, are reaction is one of concern.

2007-10-16 14:47:50 · answer #9 · answered by medinatherapy 3 · 1 0

Lighten up, unless someone really hurts themselves they will probably laugh too once they compose themselves, I know I do. And I have to admit I find it really hilarious when someone trips (as long as they don't hurt themselves), my mother is the same, I think it's hereditary.

Once my Dad fell down a whole flight of stairs and my Mum was laughing so hard people thought she was crying (he was fine by the way).

2007-10-16 14:44:21 · answer #10 · answered by Kell 2 · 1 0

Spontaneous reaction. I usually laugh at the SIGHT of what happened before I have time to think of the result.

2007-10-16 14:45:15 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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