Why do we laugh when we're tickled? It's not like it's funny, so why do we giggle?

Question

Why do we laugh when we're tickled? It's not like it's funny, so why do we giggle?

Answer 1

Nervous tension, and the fact you can't predict where you are gonna be touched at

Answer 2

It's psychological, not physical.  If you try to tickle yourself, you will notice that it wont work.  When people play with babies, they tickle then and laugh, thust teaching the baby to laugh.  Its a learning condition that continues for years.  Its not nerves, its conditioning.

Answer 3

I too, once wondered this question & have since then, done some research on it.  As surprising as this may come to you, the reason you laugh/giggle when tickled is because you & your body are in a state of panic.  When somebody tickles you & you laugh & squirm, although you may not realise it, your body is actually in a state of panic & doesn't know what to do. The reason you squirm is because your body is trying to escape from whatever is tickling it, not knowing whether or not it's going to come to any harm. As for the laughing/giggling, you may not know this, but your nerves that feel the sensation of tickling are also your nerves that feel the sensation of pain (this next part may be a little confusing to explain, so here goes).  Since soft touches don't hurt you but they still tickle, your body & nerves become confused & can't tell whether or not you are in any real danger, even if you consciously know you're only in a playful tickle-fight, for example.  Therefore, your body doesn't know whether to laugh or scream, so you kinda end up doing both, depending on how ticklish you are.  

As for me, I don't usually start screaming unless the tickling becomes very unbarable, which is rare for me as I LOVE BEING TICKLED, LOL!

I hope I've helped you.  I'm confused myself now, LOL!

Answer 4

we laugh at lots of things that aren't funny. being tickled is just the first one that happens. if you really wanted to change it up, i suppose you could snarl at your tickler...

but i don't really know the scientific reason.

Answer 5

We laugh when we get tickled because of the nervs that you touch when someone tickles you. But some people aren't ticklish because they have less sensitive nervs then others.

Answer 6

I think it is the anticipation of being tickled. It really isn't funny but it cracks you up when your being tickled because, IT TICKLES!!  Great question! You get a star!

Answer 7

This is a good question. I want to know the answer to this one also.

Answer 8

dude honestly i think this is one of the best things i ever seen ask on here for real! and it is so true it actually hurts for me to be tickled! but i still laugh i am marking this as interesting with a star i gotta see what others have to say really this is one of the best! thx for the great question man! jason