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Why does being tickled make us laugh?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Feb 28, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

I remember reading that one purpose of parents ticking their children is it teaches them defensive reflexes if they are attacked at different parts of their body (or something along those lines). Like puppies or kittens playing, it teaches them valuable life skills to survive. It makes you laugh …

88
Words

1 min
Read Time

#143
of 500 in Psychology

+29%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

I remember reading that one purpose of parents ticking their children is it teaches them defensive reflexes if they are attacked at different parts of their body (or something along those lines). Like puppies or kittens playing, it teaches them valuable life skills to survive. It makes you laugh / is fun because it is initially play. Parents wouldn't do it to their children if it hurt them or didn't get the positive feedback. So it is natures way of encouraging you to teach those reflexes to your children.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Children, parents, teaches

This explanation focuses on children, parents, teaches and spans 88 words across 5 sentences. At 29% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “I remember reading that one purpose of parents ticking their children is it teaches them defensive reflexes if they are “ It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.

How This Compares in Psychology

Ranked #143 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 29%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why being tickled make us laugh?

I remember reading that one purpose of parents ticking their children is it teaches them defensive reflexes if they are attacked at different parts of their body (or something along those lines). Like puppies or kittens playing, it teaches them…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?

This is an above-average answer at 88 words, ranked #143 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are children, parents, teaches.

What approach does this answer take to explain being tickled make us laugh?

The explanation uses root cause analysis across 88 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.