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How did William McDougall explain laughter as protection from sympathy?
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The American standup comedian and author George Carlin performed a famous routine about words that cannot be said on television.
The American psychologist William McDougall proposed that laughter evolved in the human race as a protective mechanism against sympathy.1
According to his theory, laughter serves as an antidote to the depressive influence that the shortcomings or misfortunes of others might otherwise have on us. By triggering laughter, individuals are able to shield themselves from the negative emotional impact of feeling pity or sympathy for others, effectively acting as a buffer against those distressing sentiments.1