Why We Should Laugh at Ourselves

Laughing, we know, can ease stress. It can strengthen social relationships and build trust. It can also help us cope with challenges.

The ability to turn our humor inward and laugh at ourselves eases the tension we feel about ourselves, allowing us to feel more at ease.

Self-Defeating Humor

According to the work of Jorge Torres Marín at the University of Granada Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), self-defeating humor is one of the best ways to boost psychological well-being.

Marín explains, “In particular, we have observed that a greater tendency to employ self-defeating humor is indicative of high scores in psychological well-being dimensions such as happiness and, to a lesser extent, sociability” (Marín, 2017).

Adaptive Humor

While adaptive styles of humor, such as affiliative humor, which is aimed at strengthening social relationships, or self-enhancing humor, which helps us maintain a humorous outlook in potentially stressful situations, have consistently been linked to indicators of positive psychological well-being such as happiness, satisfaction with life, hope, Marín and his team aimed to provide the psychology of humor with a well-founded, accurate theoretical body of knowledge.

Moreover, the goal was to discern the different behavioral tendencies related to the everyday use of humor, and classify them based on their adaptive natures.

The Effects of Humor

The researchers found the existence of a curvilinear relationship between prosocial humor and personality dimensions such as kindness and honesty – meaning that the more we tend to make humorous comments, the stronger our social relationships tend to be. Further, when we maintain a humorous perspective in adverse situations, we tend to manage anger more effectively (Marín et al., 2017).

Interestingly, the direction of our humor also predicts how well we manage anger. When we use aggressive humor aimed at covertly expressing anger at others, we have a greater propensity to experience anger in everyday life. However, when we use self-defeating humor, we tend to fare better psychologically, and feel less anger towards others. 

Much in the same way humor eases the tension in social relationships, when we laugh at ourselves it likely eases the tension we feel about ourselves. The result is that we feel more at ease – however flawed we may think we are.

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Courses:

The Use of Humor in Therapy is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews the risks and benefits of using humor in therapy and the relevant historical controversies of this proposal. Closeout Course #21-02 | 2015 | 24 pages | 14 posttest question

Finding Happiness: Positive Interventions in Therapy is a 4-hour online continuing education (CE) course that explores the concept of happiness, from common myths to the overriding factors that directly increase our feelings of contentment. Course #40-45 | 2018 | 57 pages | 25 posttest questions

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

PDR offers over 150 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals. 

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Using Humor to Find Happiness

Happiness

It’s easy to get stuck on the numbers on the scale when we want to lose weight, but numbers do not tell the whole story: It’s much more than weight we need to lose.

We need to lose self-recrimination. We need to lose self-shaming. We need to lose our attachment to weight as the single measure of self-worth.

But just how do we do that?

One way, say researchers from the University of Granada Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, is to use a little humor.

Individuals who frequently use self-deprecating humor – aimed at gaining the approval of others through self-mockery – say Jorge Torres Marín and his team, exhibit greater levels of psychological well-being (Marín et al., 2018).

Moreover, Marín notes that a greater tendency to employ self-deprecating humor is indicative of high scores in psychological well-being dimensions such as happiness and, to a lesser extent, sociability (Marín et al., 2018).

While the effects of self-deprecating humor on well-being may differ depending on where the research takes place, and be influenced by cultural norms, Marín suggests that new studies focus on analyzing potential cultural differences in the use of this kind of humor.

The psychology of humor, however, fits within a well-founded, accurate theoretical body of knowledge that allows for different behavioral tendencies related to the everyday use of humor to be explored – such as the affiliative use of humor, which is aimed at strengthening social relationships, or self-enhancing humor, which entails maintaining a humorous outlook in potentially stressful and adverse situations.

While these types of humor have consistently been linked to indicators of positive psychological well-being such as happiness, satisfaction with life, and hope, Marín and his team maintain that their data revealed the existence of a curvilinear relationship between prosocial humor and personality dimensions such as kindness and honesty (Marín et al., 2018).

Eliminating self-defeating behaviors isn’t easy, however, the process is made much easier when we can laugh a little – at ourselves.

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Courses:

Finding Happiness: Positive Interventions in TherapyFinding Happiness: Positive Interventions in Therapy is a 4-hour online continuing education (CE) course that explores the concept of happiness, from common myths to the overriding factors that directly increase our feelings of contentment. We will start with a discussion on why you, the clinician, need to know about happiness and how this information can help in your work with clients. We will then uncover mistakes we make when trying to attain happiness and look carefully at the actions we take and the beliefs that do not just obfuscate our happiness efforts, but often leave us less happy. Next, we will explore the ways in which our mindset influences our feelings of happiness and the many ways we can fundamentally change our levels of well-being, not just immediately, but for many years to come. The final section of this course contains exercises you can use with clients to cultivate and sustain a lifelong habit of happiness. Course #40-45 | 2018 | 57 pages | 25 posttest questions

Beyond Calories & Exercise: Eliminating Self-Defeating BehaviorsBeyond Calories & Exercise: Eliminating Self-Defeating Behaviors is a 5-hour online continuing education (CE) course that “walks” readers through the process of replacing their self-defeating weight issues with healthy, positive, and productive life-style behaviors. It moves beyond the “burn more calories than you consume” concept to encompass the emotional aspects of eating and of gaining and losing weight. Through 16 included exercises, you will learn how to identify your self-defeating behaviors (SDBs), analyze and understand them, and then replace them with life-giving actions that lead to permanent behavioral change. Course #50-10 | 2013 | 49 pages | 35 posttest questions

The Use of Humor in TherapyThe Use of Humor in Therapy is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews the risks and benefits of using humor in therapy and the relevant historical controversies of this proposal. Should therapists and counselors use humor as a therapeutic technique? If so, should they be formally trained in those procedures before their implementation? The paucity of rigorous empirical research on the effectiveness of this form of clinical intervention is exceeded only by the absence of any training for those practitioners interested in applying humor techniques. In this course a representative sample of its many advocates’ recommendations to incorporate humor in the practice of psychological therapies is reviewed. Therapeutic humor is defined, the role of therapists’ personal qualities is discussed, and possible reasons for the profession’s past resistance to promoting humor in therapy are described. Research perspectives for the evaluation of humor training are presented with illustrative examples of important empirical questions still needing to be answered. Closeout Course #21-02 | 2015 | 24 pages | 14 posttest questions

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Our online courses provide instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. Click here to learn more. Have a question? Contact us. We’re here to help!

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

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Should Humor Be Used In Psychotherapy?

Should Humor Be Used In Psychotherapy?

Humor has a place in our lives. It eases social interactions, enhances feelings of connection, and helps build trust.

One study found that when men make women laugh, they are more likely to report feelings of attraction (Hall, 2015). Another study led by researchers from Georgia State University, found that laughter-based exercise programs improve older adults’ mental health, aerobic endurance, and confidence in their ability to exercise (Greene et al., 2016).

Humor also plays an important role in healthcare, even when patients are terminally ill. After spending nearly 300 hours observing and carrying out interviews with staff, patients, and families in an intensive care unit and a palliative care unit for people with terminal illness, researchers from the University of Manitoba concluded that “when combined with scientific skill and compassion, humor offers a humanizing dimension in healthcare that is too invaluable to be overlooked” (Dean et al., 2008).

But what about in the mental health setting? Is humor appropriate for these patients?

Research suggests that humor improves group dynamics (Keyton et al., 2010), and offers an advantage in helping reinterpret challenging situations so that we experience them as entertaining, and consequently, less stressful (Proyer, 2017).

The use of therapeutic humor, say its many advocates, has many potential benefits beyond easing social interactions and helping reinterpret difficult situations, yet like any therapeutic intervention, should be used with appropriate caution. With an understanding of the research behind humor, the challenges with studying humor in psychotherapy, and the skills needed to use humor effectively, clinicians are well poised to enjoy, and help their patients enjoy, the many benefits humors offers.

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Course:

The Use of Humor in TherapyThe Use of Humor in Therapy is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews the risks and benefits of using humor in therapy and the relevant historical controversies of this proposal. Should therapists and counselors use humor as a therapeutic technique? If so, should they be formally trained in those procedures before their implementation? The paucity of rigorous empirical research on the effectiveness of this form of clinical intervention is exceeded only by the absence of any training for those practitioners interested in applying humor techniques. In this course a representative sample of its many advocates’ recommendations to incorporate humor in the practice of psychological therapies is reviewed. Therapeutic humor is defined, the role of therapists’ personal qualities is discussed, and possible reasons for the profession’s past resistance to promoting humor in therapy are described. Research perspectives for the evaluation of humor training are presented with illustrative examples of important empirical questions still needing to be answered. Course #21-02 | 2015 | 24 pages | 14 posttest questions

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. After enrolling, click on My Account and scroll down to My Active Courses. From here you’ll see links to download/print the course materials and take the CE test (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document). Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. Click here to learn more.

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

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Why You Should Practice Being Optimistic

Why You Should Practice Being OptimisticPracticing positive character traits like optimism, curiosity and humor could boost your well-being, a new study suggests.

A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies shows that when you purposely train a positive character trait, it is linked with a higher reportage of well-being, evidenced by being in a good mood or being cheerful more often.

The study included 178 adults, who were split up into three groups. The first group was told to practice character traits of curiosity, optimism, gratitude, humor and enthusiasm, while the second group was told to practice creativity, kindness, foresight, appreciating beauty and love of learning. The third group wasn’t told to practice any character traits.

The study participants practiced their assigned traits by doing things like writing thank-you cards to people to practice gratitude, or by recognizing a beautiful object or situation in order to train appreciation for beauty.

Life satisfaction was highest among the first group, though both the first and second groups did experience an increase in well-being, researchers found.

Recently, an AARP study of more than 4,000 adults showed that health, relationships, pleasures and accomplishment are some of the biggest factors in happiness.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/18/practice-character-traits-optimism-humor-positive_n_1606707.html