How did Henri Bergson explain the social purpose of laughter?

In his essay Laughter, the French philosopher Henri Bergson posits that the social purpose of laughter is to act as a corrective punishment against individuals who fail to adapt to society.12

Bergson argues that the comic arises when something mechanical is encrusted upon the living. A person becomes a comic figure when they act automatically, abandon social conventions, or fail to maintain the attention required for life in society. By laughing, society exerts pressure on these individuals to repress their unsociable tendencies and return to conformity.12

According to Bergson, laughter serves as a form of social regulation, intended to humiliate the individual into correcting their behavior. Because this correction is meant to reach as many people as possible, comedy focuses on general social follies rather than the unique traits of a single person. Ultimately, Bergson views laughter as a necessary tool for maintaining social cohesion, ensuring that individuals do not break away from the logic and conventions that bind a community together.31