Köznevetés

Köznevetés is a term used to describe the phenomenon in which laughter spreads through a group or audience, producing a shared and often amplified social response in public or communal settings. The word is formed from the Hungarian elements köz, meaning public or common, and nevetés, meaning laughter. In scholarly contexts the phenomenon is more commonly described as contagious laughter or laughter contagion, while köznevetés functions as a descriptive umbrella term in Hungarian.

The core idea is that laughter is not merely a personal reaction but a social signal that can propagate through a crowd. Mechanisms include emotional contagion, where observers unintentionally imitate and mirror others’ expressions; social signaling, where laughter reinforces group cohesion and reduces social tension; and contextual cues, such as the presence of others, the perceived safety of the situation, and the relatability of the humorous stimulus. The frequency and intensity of köznevetés can be influenced by the setting, the charisma of a speaker, and cultural norms regarding humor and public expression.

Köznevetés commonly occurs in performances, lectures, classrooms, meetings, religious services, and other gatherings where people are physically grouped. It can help create a sense of belonging and ease, but it may also derail attention or disrupt proceedings if it becomes excessive. The term remains primarily descriptive and cultural; in international literature the phenomenon is usually discussed under contagious laughter or laughter contagion, with related concepts including social bonding and collective emotion. See also contagious yawning, collective effervescence, and laughter in social psychology.