Being Silly Makes a Lot of Sense
John, at 20 months, is giggling with abandon as his father bounces a rubber ball up and down on his own head. It’s so silly we thought as we relished the video of our great-grandson’s excitement. But silliness, in fact, sometimes makes a lot of sense.
Silliness, thankfully, doesn’t stop with toddlers. It’s experienced, for example, by those who participate in or watch the decidedly silly International Hair Freezing Contest, held each February in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Contestants soak their heads in water then lift them up as the frigid air forms icy sculptures.
We all engage in silly behavior from time to time. Think of dressing up as adults for Halloween or wearing that outlandishly funny Christmas sweater. These are examples where society sanctions being silly. We’re more careful about being silly in many other situations, lest we be thought of as, well, overly goofy. Baby John, of course, didn’t need his own or others’ permission. We can learn from him.
Beyond being fun – or actually because it’s fun - silliness has lots of health benefits. The Mayo Clinic reports that, in the short-term, the laughter evoked by being silly or watching the silliness of others leads to opening the diaphragm and breathing in more oxygen, which stimulates the heart and lungs. That leads to muscle relaxation, reducing tension. Laughter releases endorphins in the brain that relieve stress and can help reduce pain. Endorphins are “feel-good” chemicals which increase our sense of well-being.
In the long-term, the Mayo Clinic notes, these same chemical reactions can enhance antibody-producing cells and the effectiveness of T-cells, which improve the immune system. They can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and some maintain that laughter can improve sleep quality.
When silliness leads to enjoyment, the brain chemical dopamine that is associated with behavior we find rewarding is released. Dopamine helps forge brain connections that encourage us to repeat satisfying behavior. Perhaps that explains why so many South Carolinians come back each year to the low-country town of Saint George to observe or participate in the World Grits Festival. The town of 1,843 swells to 10,000 as contestants have 10 seconds to roll around in a huge tub of grits to gather as many as they can on clothes which are often adorned with duct tape. Hoodies are encouraged as well; they hold a lot of grits.
Clearly, being silly is often associated with creativity, and no society flourishes without creative entrepreneurs. Many great inventions were the brainchild of people considered pursuing silly ideas at the time, including the telephone, the airplane and the Internet. Many adults unafraid to think silly thoughts, like Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), have entertained generations. During World War II, GE engineer James Wright was trying to find a way to make synthetic rubber. His product didn’t fit the bill, but he noticed that it did bounce. Enter Silly Putty. The rest is history. Roomba is a modern invention that seemed silly to most people when it first went around floors bumping into things. But it’s wildly popular now, thanks to the creative power of its inventors.
Silliness is not only good for our health and for producing inventions. It’s important for social cohesion. That’s one reason the Wisconsin state legislature in 1989 proclaimed the cow chip the “Unofficial State Muffin.” When Wisconsin and other Midwestern territories were settled in the nineteenth century, buffalo chips were an important source of fuel to get homesteaders through harsh winters. Not needed for that purpose anymore (and with buffalo mostly gone), starting in 1975, Sauk City/Prairie du Sac began their State Cow Chip Throw. Producing no dramatic product or financial coup for the world, the Throw, the Cow Chip Parade and a host of other Labor Day weekend events foster social connections and trust among Americans that is essential in local communities. It seems too often missing in our wider society where culture wars and political battles rage. Maybe we need some silly nationwide celebrations. Think of what the silly “Ice Bucket Challenge” did to raise money for ALS several years ago. The laughter at such events could help people feel closer to others, more supportive, less polarized and perhaps more forgiving.
Not every silly act is a good idea, of course. Some can be dangerous or demean others. But silliness that allows us to escape from daily pressures, appreciate the diversity of people and ideas that make life rich and allows us to suspend judgment of ourselves and others for a short while can be life affirming.
Baby John and his father are thus on to something. Researchers speculate that a toddler’s laughter at silliness is also a way of forging a connection with and even controlling adults. He knows, intuitively, that his laughter will make his father do it again. Being able to count on that – on another person – is essential to all trusting relationships. So, that silliness between father and son made a whole lot of sense.
Photo Credit: Bored Panda
