Guest Lecture
November 14, 2006
John Morreall, Ph.D.
The following are points made by Dr. Morreall during his presentation:
1. Wipe that smile back on your face: there is a need to overcome the prejudice against humor and play. Humor can have many benefits if used appropriately and in the proper setting.
2. One of the reasons we find something humorous relates to the Incongruity Theory, which states that humor is enjoying something that violates our expectations.
3. Humor requires mental distance. What may be perceived as humorous to those separated by time or distance from an event may be perceived as serious or not funny by those immediately involved.
4. Research has shown that humor has an impact on health. It may affect:
- The heart and lungs, including ones blood pressure and the circulatory system.
- The relaxation response and the ability to relax.
- Pain sensation, providing the ability to reduce pain perception.
- The immune system, the ability to fight off infections, and the ability to stay healthy.
5. Psychologically and physically, humor is the opposite of stress.
6. Humor fosters mental flexibility:
- It can help get us out of mental ruts.
- It can help us see situations from multiple (or different) perspectives.
- It can help create a positive attitude toward change, risks, and mistakes.
- It can help us see ourselves objectively.
- It can help us solve our problems creatively.
7. Humor can be a social lubricant:
- It can help create rapport and good morale.
- It can help defuse criticism.
- It can help defuse conflicts.
- It can be helpful if used appropriately with patients, although caution needs to be used, and it should never undermine showing respect for patients, their problems and their families.
