The Mystery of Ticklish Laughter

By Christine Harris

Pleasure or pain? Social response or reflex? Tickling and the laughter it induces are an enigmatic aspect of our primate heritage

Biology Psychology

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July-August 1999

Volume 87, Number 4
Page 344

DOI: 10.1511/1999.30.344

Why do we laugh when we are tickled? Perhaps we enjoy being tickled or find it funny. But if so, why do most people, especially adults, say they hate to be tickled? And why do I not laugh when I try to tickle myself?

Metin Oner

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