A SENSE OF HUMOR

 

     The Review Section of the Wall Street Journal of Saturday, March 22, 2014 had a very interesting article called “It’s Funny How Humor Actually Works.” by Dr. Scott Weems, a researcher at the University of Maryland.  His recent book is “Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why” (Basic Books, 2014).   He discusses how humor is a form of exercise that keeps the brain active.  A study by Avner Ziv of Tel Aviv University found that those who listened to a comedy album before taking a creativity test performed 20 percent better than those who were not exposed to the album beforehand.   Researchers at the University of Maryland discovered that watching comedy more than doubles one’s ability to solve brain teasers.
     Humor also helps to prepare the mind to deal with stressful events. A study by Arnold Cann, a psychologist, at the University of North Carolina had subjects watch 16 minutes of stand-up comedy before seeing an infamous shock film depicting gruesome scenes.  Those who watched the comedy before the horrid film experienced significantly less stress than those who first watched a travel show instead.
     Dr. Weems makes a further point that not every kind of humor is helpful.  Taking a sardonic, sarcastic or derisive attitude toward life can be unhealthy, especially when it relies on constant self deprecation.  Nicholas Kniper of the University of Western Ontario reports that individuals who resort to this type of humor exhibit higher rates of depression with higher anxiety and lower self-esteem.  Enjoying a good laugh at oneself can be healthy as long as one isn’t always the brunt of the humor.
     It’s well known that humor and laughter is the best medicine.  They also play a significant role in building strong, healthy associations by bringing people closer together.  When establishing a new relationship, humor can be effective in overcoming any awkwardness that may arise during the process of getting to know one another.  In long-term relationships humor can keep things fresh and exciting.  When one laughs with another, a positive bond is created.  Humor is not a miracle cure for interpersonal problems; but, it can be an excellent tool to help overcome the rough spots that occur from time to time.
     There is no age limit for a moment of laughter, “Doctor, I’m having a very difficult time hearing.”  The doctor asks, “Which ear is it?”  The man answers, “2014.”   

                       A sense of humor is the key to resilience.