Coherent with laughter: Subjective experience, behavior, and physiological responses during amusement and joy

Emotion research historically has adopted a fairly homogeneous view of positive emotions. The aim of the current study was to explore how two positive emotions, amusement and joy, differ in subjective, behavioral, cardiovascular, and respiratory characteristics. Thirty-nine participants viewed two film clips, each selected to elicit amusement or joy. As predicted, participants reported more amusement, showed more positive facial expressions and laughter, and exhibited less heart rate deceleration and a larger increase in respiratory amplitude in response to the amusement clip than in response to the joy clip. In addition, subjective, behavioral, and physiological indicators were more closely related in amusement than joy, which was largely attributable to laughter during amusement. The current study adds to a growing literature suggesting the importance of adopting a more nuanced conceptualization of positive emotion.

Research Highlights
► Amusement clip was more amusing and elicited more positive expression and laughter.
► Amusement clip elicited smaller HR deceleration and greater increases in RA.
► A higher level of coordination among response systems was found during amusement.
► Study underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of positive emotion.