Managing
Stress
8E
Principles and Strategies
for Health and Well-Being
Unless otherwise noted, all images
were supplied by Brian Luke Seaward.
Credit: © Inspiration Unlimited. Used
with permission.
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
Chapter 13
Humor Therapy
(Comic Relief)
Source: © digitalskillet/ShutterStock, Inc.
“A smile is the
shortest distance
between
two people.”
— Victor Borge,
musician, comedian
Definition:
Definition:
Humor: A perception
of something funny
or comical; not a
mood, but a
perception that can
trigger a feeling or
mood of joy and
happiness (even if
only for a brief
moment!)
Historical Perspective
Figure 13.1.
Because laughter
and smiling were
thought to be a sin
at the turn of the
last century, no did
so in front of a
camera for fear of
being blackmailed
with the proof.
Source: © Photos.com
Three factors must occur for humor to
register in the mind:
Three factors must occur for humor to
register in the mind:
1. Sources that act as potential stimuli
(e.g., a pie thrown in the face)
Three factors must occur for humor to
register in the mind:
1. Sources that act as potential stimuli
(e.g., a pie thrown in the face)
2. The interpretation of the stimuli
(perceiving a whip-creamed face as funny)
Three factors must occur for humor to
register in the mind:
1. Sources that act as potential stimuli
(e.g., a pie thrown in the face)
2. The interpretation of the stimuli
(perceiving a whip-creamed face as funny)
3. Behavioral response: Laughter, smiling
Theories of Humor
(Reasons Why We Laugh and Smile)
1. Superiority Theory
(emotion-based theory)
1. Superiority Theory
2. Incongruity Theory
(cognitive-based theory)
1. Superiority Theory
2. Incongruity Theory
3. Release/Relief Theory
(physical/body-based theory)
1. Superiority Theory
2. Incongruity Theory
3. Release/Relief Theory
4. Divinity Theory (spirit-based)
Types of Humor
Source: Courtesy of Jim and Nancy Gill
1. Parody (self-parody)
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
5. Double Entendre
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
5. Double Entendre
6. Black Humor
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
5. Double Entendre
6. Black Humor
7. Irony
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
5. Double Entendre
6. Black Humor
7. Irony
8. Dry Humor
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
5. Double Entendre
6. Black Humor
7. Irony
8. Dry Humor
9. Bathroom
Humor
1. Parody (self-parody)
2. Satire
3. Slapstick Humor
4. Absurd/Nonsense Humor
5. Double Entendre
6. Black Humor
7. Irony
8. Dry Humor
9. Bathroom
Humor
10. Sarcasm
Figure 13.3. The popular show Modern Family
uses a host of humor styles, from irony and satire to
parody and quick wit.
Photo © Petter Stone/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./AP Images
Senses of Humor
1. Conventional Sense of Humor
Senses of Humor
1. Conventional Sense of Humor
2. Life of the Party Sense of Humor
Senses of Humor
1. Conventional Sense of Humor
2. Life of the Party Sense of Humor
3. Creative Sense of Humor
Senses of Humor
1. Conventional Sense of Humor
2. Life of the Party Sense of Humor
3. Creative Sense of Humor
4. Good Sport Sense of Humor
Figure 13.2. The
divinity theory of
humor becomes
apparent in
cartoons like
Bizarro.
Does God have a
sense of humor?
Most theologians
think (and hope)
so!
Bizarro © Dan Piraro. King Features Syndicate.
Humor as a Coping
Technique
Source: Courtesy of Andrew Adams
As a defense mechanism, humor decreases
anxiety and increases pleasure.
As a defense mechanism, humor decreases
anxiety and increases pleasure.
Humor helps crack open the right side of the
brain to gain a wider perspective on things so
we can laugh at ourselves.
As a defense mechanism, humor decreases
anxiety and increases pleasure.
Humor helps crack open the right side of the
brain to gain a wider perspective on things so
we can laugh at ourselves.
Humor (e.g., joy, mirth, happiness) balances
out common feelings of fears and frustrations
The Effects of Humor:
The Effects of Humor:
1. Decreases muscle tension
2. Decreases resting heart rate, blood pressure
3. Decreases emotional stress (anxiety)
4. Increases neuropeptides (endorphins)
5. Increases immune system integrity
6. Increases overall sense of well-being
Figure 13.6. Renowned physician Patch Adams, MD,
has dedicated his life to the healing profession to use
humor rather than drugs or surgery.
Source: Courtesy of Patch Adams
Steps to Initiate
Comic Relief
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
4. Start a joke/cartoon collection
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
4. Start a joke/cartoon collection
5. Learn to hyper-exaggerate when telling a story
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
4. Start a joke/cartoon collection
5. Learn to hyper-exaggerate when telling a story
6. Build a humor library & start a tickler notebook
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
4. Start a joke/cartoon collection
5. Learn to hyper-exaggerate when telling a story
6. Build a humor library & start a tickler notebook
7. Seek a host of humorous venues
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
4. Start a joke/cartoon collection
5. Learn to hyper-exaggerate when telling a story
6. Build a humor library & start a tickler notebook
7. Seek a host of humorous venues
8. Access your humor network (friends)
1. Don’t take life (or yourself) TOO seriously
2. Find one humorous thing a day
3. Improve your imagination and creativity
4. Start a Joke/cartoon collection
5. Learn to hyper-exaggerate when telling a story
6. Build a humor library & start a tickler notebook
7. Seek a host of humorous venues
8. Access your humor network (friends)
9. Improve your
self-esteem
Best Application of
Comic Relief
Patch Adams, MD (with author Brian Luke Seaward)