Men who have more trouble controlling laughter also have more trouble controlling sexual arousal
“Oh man I’m erect, how funny”
Have ever experienced something so funny that you just had to laugh out loud? In fact it was so funny you literally could not contain your laughter; it all just came pouring out of you. Of course most people have experienced such an event at least once in their lives and can attest to the fact that sometimes laughter is uncontrollable. However, sometimes, it can be more of a proven then initially anticipated.
Some studies suggest that, specifically, men who cannot control, or at least have trouble controlling, their laughter also seem to have trouble controlling their arousal. Researcher at the University of British Colombia conducted a study which looked at this phenomenon is greater detail. These researchers showed male participants 16 video clips ranging and alternating between funny and erotic. Based on which video was being watched participants were asked to try and control their responses to the video.
It was found that while watching the erotic videos, and after being told to try and control themselves, men showed a 25 percent reduction in overall erections; which were measured with the help of machines. However interestingly enough, the research found that the men who were unable to quell their reactions to the erotic videos also showed little control over their reactions to the funny videos, while men who could control their reactions in the erotic videos were also able to stop themselves from laughing at the funny videos.
As such it would seem that there is a correlation between the control of laughter and control of sexual arousal. Researchers suggested that this had to do with impulse control and that men who couldn’t control their responses had lower impulse control. However correlation does not equate to causation. There could be other factors that trigger this response or lack there of. This subject has yet been fully explored and as such leaves much to be answered. For instance would this same result be the same in women? Food for thought.
-Cassey
SOURCES
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200011/the-science-laughter
http://www.asylum.com/2009/10/23/men-who-cant-control-laughter-cant-control-sexual-arousal/
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