Laughter often yields social acceptance, which diminishes anxiety and bolsters our emotional health.
When someone says funny things, the listener feels relaxed and calm, but the person using the humor also relaxes and feels less anxiety. Humor also is a form of relaxation or stress reduction, Kupersmith said. An example of gallows humor might be something we mutter to ourselves, not wanting anyone to hear. She pointed out that everyone has different perceptions of what is funny. What is humorous to some might be offensive or even strange to others.