Laughter as ideological symptom: Dialogical analysis of older adults' discourse

Andres Haye^1*Manuel Torres-Sahli²

• ¹Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
• ²University of the Andes, Chile, Las Condes, Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM), Chile

This paper examines how laughter functions as an ideological symptom in the discourse of older adults regarding aging. The analysis is based on four group interviews conducted in Chile with participants aged 60 and above. Drawing from Voloshinov's dialogical theory, we conceptualize laughter not merely as an emotional response, but as an ideological symptom revealing tensions between what is said and what remains assumed. Using a three-phase qualitative methodology—including thematic, dialogical, and comparative approaches—we show that laughter functions as an embodied enthymeme, marking moments where personal experiences meet societal expectations and difficult truths emerge obliquely. Our findings indicate that laughter serves multiple functions. It helps navigate sensitive topics like mortality and dependency, marks boundaries between acceptance and resistance of aging stereotypes, and reveals shared but unspoken understandings about 'appropriate' aging. These patterns varied across gender and socioeconomic dimensions, with different groups employing humor to navigate distinct ideological tensions. By approaching laughter as a site where affect and ideology converge, this study offers contributions to aging studies and critical discourse analysis, offering insights into how social values about aging are embodied and negotiated through seemingly peripheral communicative acts.