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Gelotophobia: living a life in fear of laughter | Gelotophobia: living a life in fear of laughter |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Being in the middle of a group of laughing friends is usually a happy experience, But for those with an unusual phobia it is anything but. They are people with gelotophobia - a fear of laughter. | Being in the middle of a group of laughing friends is usually a happy experience, But for those with an unusual phobia it is anything but. They are people with gelotophobia - a fear of laughter. |
Drummond* (all names have been changed), 18, from the US, told researchers: "I hear people laughing and I assume they are laughing at me. I tense up and get ready for a fight, I can feel the adrenaline. | |
"I hardly ever talk or do anything that could cause me to be laughed at. I remain stone-faced most of the day. | "I hardly ever talk or do anything that could cause me to be laughed at. I remain stone-faced most of the day. |
"I see other people having fun. Sometimes I want to change and be like them. | "I see other people having fun. Sometimes I want to change and be like them. |
"But I don't want to get there and be made fun of because I am different." | "But I don't want to get there and be made fun of because I am different." |
'Extreme anger' | 'Extreme anger' |
His description of his condition was recorded by Dr Tracey Platt, at the University of Zurich, in Switzerland. | His description of his condition was recorded by Dr Tracey Platt, at the University of Zurich, in Switzerland. |
She is part of a body of scientists across the world, including Africa, Canada, India and Russia, trying to understand what causes the condition. | She is part of a body of scientists across the world, including Africa, Canada, India and Russia, trying to understand what causes the condition. |
Gelotophobes either do not understand what laughter is, or they think it is directed at them in a negative, malicious way and feel scared when they hear it. | Gelotophobes either do not understand what laughter is, or they think it is directed at them in a negative, malicious way and feel scared when they hear it. |
They often find being around people difficult, and may suffer stress headaches, dizziness and bouts of trembling in social situations. | They often find being around people difficult, and may suffer stress headaches, dizziness and bouts of trembling in social situations. |
Chukar, 37, is from Israel. He says he feels "ashamed" and "embarrassed" when he hears people laugh. | Chukar, 37, is from Israel. He says he feels "ashamed" and "embarrassed" when he hears people laugh. |
"When I hear laughter I feel above average to extreme anger which starts as a visceral reaction that would last for hours, and sometimes days. I also get extreme body tension, and headaches." | "When I hear laughter I feel above average to extreme anger which starts as a visceral reaction that would last for hours, and sometimes days. I also get extreme body tension, and headaches." |
Chukar says he sidesteps social situations in favour of reading and playing solitary sports. | Chukar says he sidesteps social situations in favour of reading and playing solitary sports. |
Avoided 'like plague' | Avoided 'like plague' |
He says: "When others sought to bait me and use me as the butt of their jokes to impress their friends then I would fight. | He says: "When others sought to bait me and use me as the butt of their jokes to impress their friends then I would fight. |
"I have got into few fights in my life, but when I did my target usually got badly hurt and the rest of the group avoided me like the plague." | "I have got into few fights in my life, but when I did my target usually got badly hurt and the rest of the group avoided me like the plague." |
Working in a busy office can seem an insurmountable challenge if every time someone laughs, it feels like a personal attack. People with the condition can be limited in the sorts of jobs they can get. | Working in a busy office can seem an insurmountable challenge if every time someone laughs, it feels like a personal attack. People with the condition can be limited in the sorts of jobs they can get. |
Long term, the phobia can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. It is also associated with depression. | Long term, the phobia can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. It is also associated with depression. |
Gelotophobes can struggle to make friends, find love, or form lasting relationships. | Gelotophobes can struggle to make friends, find love, or form lasting relationships. |
"I am alone and cope alone," says Chukar. | "I am alone and cope alone," says Chukar. |
Legacy of bullying | Legacy of bullying |
Academic research into people with gelotophobia started in 2008, so it is still largely a mystery exactly what lies behind it, meaning treatment is relatively limited. | Academic research into people with gelotophobia started in 2008, so it is still largely a mystery exactly what lies behind it, meaning treatment is relatively limited. |
Dr Platt says the causes are likely to be a child's environment, how their personality develops, their school life, social life and their own humour. | Dr Platt says the causes are likely to be a child's environment, how their personality develops, their school life, social life and their own humour. |
She says many gelotophobes report being bullied at school. | She says many gelotophobes report being bullied at school. |
"The question is what came first? Does someone have a disposition that makes them sensitive and there is a mismatch, which means they feel they are being bullied in the first place?" | "The question is what came first? Does someone have a disposition that makes them sensitive and there is a mismatch, which means they feel they are being bullied in the first place?" |
Or it could be a straightforward response to bullying, she says. | Or it could be a straightforward response to bullying, she says. |
Dr Platt believes the phobia would not suddenly develop at the age of 30 and also that there is a link to Asperger syndrome. | Dr Platt believes the phobia would not suddenly develop at the age of 30 and also that there is a link to Asperger syndrome. |
Humour fall-out? | Humour fall-out? |
Dr Platt works to understand what facial expressions are linked with feeling afraid of laughter. | Dr Platt works to understand what facial expressions are linked with feeling afraid of laughter. |
After filling out online questionnaires, her volunteers come into the lab in Zurich. | After filling out online questionnaires, her volunteers come into the lab in Zurich. |
She uses avatars to show them a range of facial expressions, to see exactly when a smile becomes upsetting. | She uses avatars to show them a range of facial expressions, to see exactly when a smile becomes upsetting. |
"It may be that gelotophobes can be reprogrammed," she said. | "It may be that gelotophobes can be reprogrammed," she said. |
But they are "not at the point where they can test treatment", as the field is so new, she adds. | But they are "not at the point where they can test treatment", as the field is so new, she adds. |
Dr Platt says she wants the condition to be easily identified by therapists, who can then help to shape a patient's treatment in future. | Dr Platt says she wants the condition to be easily identified by therapists, who can then help to shape a patient's treatment in future. |
Britain has the highest prevalence of people with the phobia, says Dr Platt, likely due to its culture of humour, with 13% of the population gelotophobic to some extent. | Britain has the highest prevalence of people with the phobia, says Dr Platt, likely due to its culture of humour, with 13% of the population gelotophobic to some extent. |
It leads the world for extreme gelotophobia, with 1% of the UK population categorised as having a pathological fear of laughter, which impacts greatly on their daily life. | It leads the world for extreme gelotophobia, with 1% of the UK population categorised as having a pathological fear of laughter, which impacts greatly on their daily life. |
There are also higher numbers in some parts of Asian culture, she says, where shame could be used as a form of control. | There are also higher numbers in some parts of Asian culture, she says, where shame could be used as a form of control. |
"But Denmark has the lowest gelotophobia in society, as laughing at somebody else - you just don't do it. | "But Denmark has the lowest gelotophobia in society, as laughing at somebody else - you just don't do it. |
"It is seen as very wrong to laugh at another's misfortune," she added. | "It is seen as very wrong to laugh at another's misfortune," she added. |
Just under 2% of Denmark's population have the condition. | Just under 2% of Denmark's population have the condition. |
'Index of problems' | 'Index of problems' |
Prof Sophie Scott at University College London is researching the neuroscience of voices, speech and laughter. | Prof Sophie Scott at University College London is researching the neuroscience of voices, speech and laughter. |
She said: "I do not think you can play down the importance of laughter. It is absolutely endemic." | She said: "I do not think you can play down the importance of laughter. It is absolutely endemic." |
Prof Scott said laughter had a key role in helping people to deal with negative emotions, and to feel calm and cheerful, that would not be available to gelotophobes. | Prof Scott said laughter had a key role in helping people to deal with negative emotions, and to feel calm and cheerful, that would not be available to gelotophobes. |
She added: "You can imagine it would be highly unpleasant if you could not join in with laughter or react in a nice way." | She added: "You can imagine it would be highly unpleasant if you could not join in with laughter or react in a nice way." |
Prof Scott said being gelotophobic could be an index of people's social problems or personality traits rather than laughter. | Prof Scott said being gelotophobic could be an index of people's social problems or personality traits rather than laughter. |
Work is ongoing to focus on what was happening in the brains of children with disorders which can result in gelotophobia, to understand its neurological basis, she said. | Work is ongoing to focus on what was happening in the brains of children with disorders which can result in gelotophobia, to understand its neurological basis, she said. |