Chapter 12:Chapter 12: Humor Therapy Humor Therapy (Comic Relief) (Comic Relief)

A smile is the shortest distance A smile is the shortest distance between two people.between two people.

- Victor - Victor BorgeBorge

Norman Cousins and Norman Cousins and humor therapyhumor therapy

Anatomy of an IllnessAnatomy of an Illness Is there a correlation between stress, Is there a correlation between stress,

particularly negative perceptions and particularly negative perceptions and emotions, and disease?emotions, and disease?

The premise of humor therapy is that if The premise of humor therapy is that if negative thoughts can result in negative thoughts can result in

illness illness and disease, positive and disease, positive thoughts should thoughts should enhance health.enhance health.

Types and senses Types and senses of humorof humor

parodyparody satiresatire slapstick comedyslapstick comedy absurd/nonsense absurd/nonsense

humorhumor

black humorblack humor ironyirony dry humor and dry humor and

punspuns sarcasmsarcasm

Theories of humorTheories of humor

Superiority TheorySuperiority Theory Incongruity Theory Incongruity Theory Release/Relief TheoryRelease/Relief Theory Divinity TheoryDivinity Theory

Physiology of humorPhysiology of humor

relaxes musclesrelaxes muscles reduces blood pressurereduces blood pressure increases ventilationincreases ventilation massages internal organsmassages internal organs promotes secretion of neuropeptidespromotes secretion of neuropeptides

Physiology of humorPhysiology of humor

Research investigating the psycho-Research investigating the psycho-neuroimmunological effects of laughter neuroimmunological effects of laughter have found that there is a strong have found that there is a strong relationship between good health and relationship between good health and good humor. In essence, laughter helps good humor. In essence, laughter helps restore physiological homeostasis.restore physiological homeostasis.

Steps to initiate Steps to initiate humor therapyhumor therapy

learn not to take yourself too seriously.learn not to take yourself too seriously. find one humorous thing a day.find one humorous thing a day. work to improve your imagination and work to improve your imagination and

creativity.creativity. learn to hyperexaggerate when telling a learn to hyperexaggerate when telling a

story.story.

Steps to initiate Steps to initiate humor therapyhumor therapy

build a humor library.build a humor library. find a host of varied humor venues.find a host of varied humor venues. access your humor network.access your humor network. boost your self-esteem daily.boost your self-esteem daily.