Heard a joke recently that went completely over your head? Have you been stood around the office water-cooler only to find yourself the only one not laughing at Jean from Accounting’s witty observations? Don’t worry; research commissioned by Felix, the mischievous black and white cat, suggests that you’re not alone.

This could be a rather unfortunate prognosis, however, as according to a scientific trial, ahead of April’s National Mischief Month, ‘innocent mischief’ has been found to be scientifically good for us. The feeling we get from being verbally tickled is said to be: ‘comparable to the buzz we get from eating chocolate, kissing a loved one or going on a first date’, according to a recent press release. Other benefits include a raised heart rate and increased creativity both for the prankster and the ‘prankee’.

However, alarmingly, for those of us pushing 40 and over, our appreciation of pranks and jokes has begun to decline. These findings are supported by a survey of over 1,700 Brits, which discovered that the older we get, the less likely we are to appreciate a good pun.

Other results indicate: 61% of under 25s and 50% of 25-35 year olds regularly play jokes on friends, partners and colleagues at work, compared to 29% of over 55s. A massive one in five over 55s say they have never played a practical joke on someone. One in five regular pranksters say playing practical jokes helps keep them feeling young, while for one in three, mischief is a means of bonding with their social group. 44% of Brits think writing/drawing on someone while they are asleep or sending a naughty text or email from someone else’s phone/PC are the funniest pranks to play. British men are bigger pranksters than women (54% vs. 39%) and are more likely to play pranks on mates than with family or work colleagues. They also enjoy being the victim of a prank more than women. Brits are at their most mischievous when playing with their kids and spending time with their partner. Those from London and the North West are the most mischievous and are more likely to play pranks on a frequent basis than any other region.
Neuro-psychologist Dr David Lewis, who conducted the study, explains: ‘Our
enjoyment of innocent mischief appears to be one of the earliest casualties of ageing. This decline in playfulness could be linked to a gradual loss of creativity, a growing dislike of novelty and a retreat into more conventional ways of thinking. Adding a little mischief to our lives could help stimulate inventiveness and energy, keeping us youthful as we move into middle age.’
Senior Brand Manager for Felix, Stephanie Case, said, ‘We’ve got lots to learn from our pets and our children, who really capture the spirit of innocent, light-hearted mischief and bring a smile to our faces with their playful behaviour. We’ve launched ‘Felix Mischief Month’ to encourage Brits to lighten up and inject a little light-hearted fun into their lives.’

During April, as part of the fun, Felix will be running for mayor in a number of cities across the country! OUR CATS welcomes any stories from readers who are attempting their own ‘innocent mischief’ this month, if not - simply let us know what you do to help laugh yourself young!