The Inner Eye Theory of Laughter: Mindreader Signals Cooperator Value:

Evolutionary Psychology

Wonil Edward Jung¹ 

关键词: animal signal;    false belief;    consciousness;    cooperation;    empathy;    evolutionary psychology;    folk psychology;    game theory;    happiness;    humor;    instant utility;    laughter;    mindreading;    morality;    representation;    smile;    sympathy;    theory of mind;   

DOI  :  10.1177/147470490300100118

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

In this hypothesis paper, I propose a three-component set of jointly necessary and sufficient trigger criteria for all cases of involuntary laughter. The theory incorporates concepts from the theory of mind in cognitive science. I then examine the information content of the laughter signal from a game theoretic perspective. I conclude that laughter is a signal of cooperator value as it provides information on the laugher's empathy with the attributed mental states and her sympathy levels for all affected by the laugh-inducing situation. Laughter also indicates what types of mental representations children, autistic people, nonhuman primates and adults possess and can falsify.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC