Children with older brothers and sisters find it easier to make people laugh.
Psychologist Richard Wiseman studied 1000 children for the Ocean Village Laughter Lines report, and found that just over half of younger brothers and sisters found it easy to be amusing compared with a third of eldest children.
The study also found that only 11 per cent of only children had the ability to be humorous. Younger children were more likely to feel the need to compete for parental attention and could bring that skill into adulthood, according to the experts
Professor Wiseman, who compiled the report, said his findings back up previous research showing the effect of birth order on personality.
"The youngest has to compete for parental attention, so they have to be a bit more unconventional. They are risk-takers and also more humorous. On the other hand, older children tend to take on much more serious roles. And only children don't feel the need to compete for attention."
Research from the University of California had found that younger children had to find novel ways of gaining attention because they had not developed the same skills and abilities of older siblings.
The report also found gender differences in humour, with 70 per cent of women finding it difficult to remember the punch line to jokes, compared with 50 per cent of men.
Professor Wiseman added, "The study reveals that laughter is hugely important to Britons with 82 per cent stating they find it easy to make others laugh. The study reveals humour is not inherited but is moulded by our individual experiences."
Dr Sandra Wheatley, a social psychologist based in Leicestershire, said, "It is true that younger siblings tend to be that little bit more mischievous and more extroverted. They have to compete in what is a competitive market-place. They will therefore use a non-threatening, non-confrontational way of getting adults' attention."
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