Comedy Quote by Kevin Simler
““Even infants seem to use laughter intentionally, to communicate their emotional state to their interaction partners. Provine describes the “duet” that takes place between mother and baby, where the mother first provides some stimulation, typically in the form of a touch or a tickle, and the baby responds either by laughing (“More! More!”) or by crying, defending, or fussing (“Too much! Stop!”).””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Social Animal” by David Brooks, 2011
Infants use laughter deliberately to signal emotions and engage caregivers, creating a back‑and‑forth interaction that shapes social bonding.
In simple terms: Babies laugh to show feelings and connect with adults.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respond to emotional cues early.
Themes
communication
emotional development
social bonding
Mood
warm
observant
insightful
Type
observational
psychological
developmental
When to use this quote
- parent‑child play
- early education
- therapy sessions
- team building
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
nonverbal signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does early emotional signaling affect later relationships?
- What cues indicate a shift from positive to negative affect?
A Different Perspective
Laughter can be misread as trivial, overlooking deeper distress signals.
