CHAPTER IX.

LAUGHTER IN SOCIAL EVOLUTION.

Connection between laughter and social life • 254

Contagiousness of mirth as social quality • 255

Social uses of laughter • 256

Class-differentiation as condition of laughter • 258

How social grouping widens the field of the laughable • 259

Utility of reciprocal group-laughter • 261

Screwing up members of other groups • 261

Laughter of superiors at inferiors • 263

Quizzing of authorities by subjects • 264

Mirthful turning on task-masters • 265

Woman’s laughing retort • 267

Corrective function of laughter of inferiors • 268

Conciliatory service of group-laughter • 269

Summary of social utilities of laughter • 271

Laughter of other groups as corrective of self-importance • 272

Social movements as influencing laughter • 272

Changes of fashion • 273

Fashion and custom • 275

Merry aspects of movements of fashion • 276

Droll side of descent of fashion to lower ranks • 277

Laughter at the old-fashioned • 279

The movement of progress • 279

Mirthful greeting of new ideas and practices • 280

Laughing away effete customs • 281

Influence of mirthful spirit on social changes • 283

Effect of evolution of culture groups • 283

Effect of minuter subdivision of sets • 285

Effect of progress in breaking down group-barriers • 286

Droll aspects of transition of society to a plutocratic form • 287

Refining effect of culture-movement on hilarity • 288

Decline of older voluminous merriment • 290

Conflict between popular mirth and authority • 291

Combination of standards in popular estimate of laughable • 293

Preparation for individual laughter • 295