Using humor to Reduce Stress and Improve Work

MoralePart 1

The psychology and science of humor

Why We Laugh

Why do we laugh?

• Laughter is mostly an unconscious response to social/physical/linguistic cues.

• Laughter is contagious.

• Aristotle and Plato believed in the “superiority theory,” which says we laugh at the misfortune of others. Jokes have a victim(s).

Why We LaughImmanuel Kant: humor occurs at the moment you realize there is an incongruity between your expectations and payoff. “Don’t try this at home kids. Try it at school.”

Sigmund Freud: Claimed humor was a way to release pent-up thoughts and emotions (that you held about your parents).

A release from tension. Joke telling.

Why We Laugh

Laughter is primarily a social vocalization that binds people together.

Types of laughter (Vanderbilt University):

• Women: 50% Sing-song (voiced); 25% Grunt (exhaling through mouth); 25% Snort (exhaling through nose).

• Men: 33% Sing-song; 33% Grunt and scratch a body part; 33% Snort and scratch a body part.

Why We LaughBoth sexes laugh, however females tend to laugh more.

• 126 more than male counterparts

• Men are more “Go get the laughs”.

We begin laughing at about age 4 months.

• Children laugh more than adults.

• The older we are the less we laugh.

Laughter is good Medicine

Aids in digestion, increases endorphins, dopamine, helps bolster immunity to sickness, and aids breathing and circulation.

Restores or establishes a positive emotional climate and a sense of connection between people/teams.

Laughter is good Medicine

Pain reduction. Rosemary Cogan, Ph.D., Texas Tech University Lily Tomlin Video Study.

• Subjects who laughed tolerated more discomfort than other subjects. It helped temper intense pain.

James Rotton, Ph.D., of Florida International University, reported that orthopedic surgery patients who watched comedic videos requested fewer aspirin and tranquilizers.

Environment and Laugher

Color your world yellow.

Auditory reminders. Smart phones.

Kinesthetic reminders. Mr. Bill.

Visual reminders.

• Colorful pics that make you smile.

• Tie in core values with happy pics.

Auditory reminders.

Kinesthetic reminders.

• Article

Environment and Laughter

Television: Andy Griffin Show, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Ellen, and Seinfeld.

Standup: Richard Pryor, Bryan Reagan, Bill Hicks, Christopher Titus, and Mitch Hedberg.

Improv/Creative: Second City, Blue Man Group, Midwest Tool and Die.

Storytelling: Bill Cosby, Waddie Mitchell, and David Holt.

Environment and Laughter

www.storytellingcenter.net/festival/

Movies: Elf, Superbad, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Music - Loudon Wainwright III, Frank Zappa, Ray Stevens, John Prine, Steve Goodman, and Cuz.

Radio - Rick and Bubba Show, Siriusxm.

Print - Lewis Gizzard, Dave Barry, Woody Allen. Favorite Bloggers?

Water with Comedy• Treat yourself...then your team like a

houseplant.

• How often are you watering yourself with humor?

• Don’t wait until you’re drooping to water yourself.

• What types of “fertilizer” are you using?

• What type of fertilizers will you try in the future?

• Schedule “watering” breaks in your calendar.

REBTRational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

• Event

• Interpretation

• Feelings

• Action

• Dr. Albert Ellis

Be-Know-Do

• What are you going to be? Note it.

• What are you going to know? Note it.

• What are you going to do? Note it.

• One day Be....one day Know....one day do.... www.timsteed.com