Nervous laughter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nervous laughter is used to describe laughter evoked from an audience's expression of embarrassment, alarm, or confusion, rather than amusement. Nervous laughter is usually less robust in expression than "a good belly laugh", and may be combined with confused glances or awkward silence on the part of others in the audience. Nervous laughter is considered analogous to a courtesy laugh, which may be rendered by more of a conscious effort in an attempt to move a situation along more quickly, especially when the comedian is pausing for laughter.

[edit] Sightings

Unhealthy or "nervous" laughter comes from the throat. This nervous laughter is not true laughter, but an expression of tension and anxiety. Instead of relaxing a person, nervous laughter tightens them up even further.

• The Fugitive (1993 film) during the climax of the movie, Harrison Ford's character, Dr. Richard Kimble, a fugitive from the authorities on the charge of murder, suddenly appears publicly during a highly formal dinner to accuse his former colleague, Dr. Charles Nichols of the murder. Dr. Nichols is mid-speech, and attempt to use humour to diffuse the situation. This unanticipated and embarrassing turn of events evokes hesitant, nervous laughter from the crowd.