Curiosity Journal: Observe Laughter

Throughout the 20th century, Psychologists have showed interest in the relationships between humor and psychological well-being, mental and physical, self-esteem, and such.

Humor is an essentially social phenomenon. Humorous jokes and funny performances and scenes in films are a form of communication that is typically common in social interaction. These humorous jokes and expressions are socially and ethnically made. They often relate to a particular to a specific time and place. The subjects and issues that an individual may joke about may typically be essential to the social and moral order of society. (Kuipers, 2007) Humor is the idea that a phenomenon can be conceptualized as originating from juxtaposing two or more conceptualizations that do not normatively speak or go together. Despite the social characterization in humor, sociology, this is the idea that studies society and human behavior, has not concerned itself much with humor.

Humor and laughter are always good for physical and mental health. While unhappiness and stress can affect individuals’ lifestyle and cause diseases, jokes and chuckles can release favorable hormones, strengthen organs’ functioning, relax individuals’ minds, and make them happy and productive. Consequently, the role of fun and laughs have assumed a lot of significance in the field of medicine. Common knowledge and research studies have shown that laughter can not only lighten up people who are afflicted with serious diseases and other illnesses, but can also facilitate them to recover quickly. However, when gallows humor involving medical professionals in healthcare settings is focused, it can give rise to ethical dilemmas. Gallows

     Laughter relates a lot to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It is a representation of the ability to decide for your self. Billy Bibbit was always being bossed around by the nurse and his mother. Once he knew he could laugh and stop listening to what everyone demanded of him he started to loosen up. . "It's natural to all human beings to laugh. It's society which restricts us and tells us that we must settle down.'' (Murphy) The society that Billy was in, was putting to much pressure on him to settle down when he was just trying to be himself. That was the part that was making him crazy. The pressure the ward and his mother put on him to be restricted led him to his suicide. When Billy started laughing he actually started to seem normal. He actually slept with a prostitute, knowing that if his mother found out she would never see him the same way. ."It affects our psychoneuro-immunology.'' (Murphy) “In other words, medical research has established a link between emotions, the nervous system and endocrine

There are many ways that people use humor. It has been used both in positive and negative ways. The negative, or more aggressive, view of humor is “evident in ancient writings” and “in the merciless teasing that children inflict on one another.”, However, in modern times, humor is now commonly seen as a positive aspect and that the laughter that arises is the “expression [an] incongruity.” Because of these two conflicting view of humor, there have been multiple theories proposed to explain it.

Central Idea/ Thesis statement: There are several benefits of laughter in terms of physical, mental and social.

During this study researchers Rod A. Martin and Herbert M Lefcourt accomplished three similar but separate studies. The first study was on how much humor reduces stress in life situations among college students. The second was on the application of a humorous situation and how much it would relate to their use of humor in “real life” situations. The third and final study was a follow up from study one and more accurately assessed the participants use of humor in stressful situations.

The student has strived to be able to use humor to ease tense situations in their own life while still portraying attentiveness, understanding, and loving. This research has helped the student to realize that attempting to make the people in their personal lives laugh and have a moment of less anxiety, can be translated into their future profession. The student is interested in supplementing their traditional schooling with courses such as The Laughing Body: The Art of Care and other related courses taught at The Gesundheit Institute. The student expects that the use of humor in their practice will both help ease their own tension and also the stresses of the friends they make throughout their

Laughter is an essential human phenomenon. Smiling in response to pleasant physical conditions occurs in early development, usually in the first month of life. As a motor reflex, laughter is usually present by the time a child is 4 months old. By the age of eighteen months, a child smiles once every six minutes, and by four years of age, the rate increases to one smile every one and one-third minutes. The ratio of laughs to smiles increases from one laugh to every ten smiles as eighteen months to one every three smile at four years. The individual differences in the rate of both laughing and smiling become greater as the children grow older. (Stearns, 1972) The instinctual development of smiling and laughing occurs very

    The form of communication created by the television is not only a part of how our modern society communicates, but is has changed public discourse to the point that it has completely redefined it, argued Neil Postman in his convincing book Amusing Ourselves to Death. He viewed this as very harmful, and additionally so because our society is ignorant of it as they quickly becomes engulfed in its epistemology. When faced with the question about whether the television shapes or reflects culture, Postman pointed out that it is no longer applicable because "television has gradually become our culture" (79). What kind of culture is this? Postman warned that it is one in which we

Norman Cousins said, “Laughter is a powerful way to tap positive emotions" (Moss 1). Humor is studied by many researchers in sociology, psychology, art, literature, and medicine. When people wonder whether humor aids in areas other than health, a treasure trove of possible benefits to the learning or educational community is opened up. Humor can be used as a tool to promote learning.Research speaks to the many benefits of humor in healing, to its benefits in the classroom or boardroom, from reducing stress of students or employees, to boosting self-esteem and feelings of camaraderie. Additionally, studies show that those who use humor to convey a message are often more favorably perceived. Humor helps deliver the presenter's message to

To laugh is defined as: “to express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually unarticulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements” (Dictionary, 2013). This simple act has been suggested to boost immunity, lower stress hormone, decrease pain, relax muscles, and prevent heart disease (Smith & Segal, 2012), and those are just the physical health benefits. Other studies have suggested that laughter is a great way to ease anxiety and fear, relieve stress, improve mood, and even enhance resilience (Bennett et al., 2003). Not to mention that sharing a good laugh with friends and family can bring these relationships closer (Bennett et al., 2003).

To build credibility Samson, Gross (2012) discussed how humor has long been seen as an effective coping strategy. However, in the following paragraph of the journal article, it states that experimental literature on the effects of humor is still considered inconclusive. In other words, before we make a conclusion regarding the type of humor that is more effective, we must determine whether humor

Laughter is something that breaks tensions, forms bonds between its victims, and can cheer up your day. It has been scientifically proven that laughter sends rushes of dopamine (the brain’s happy “drug”) to the brain, in which results in you being in a better mood. Everyone is different; hence, everyone will find their own definition of what is funny. Though, there are usually socially acceptable things to laugh at and to not within a community. For example, in America, it is not socially acceptable to laugh if you find out someone has died, or if someone is severely injured. First instinct is to cry, consult the family, and have alone time. However, in Felicidade Eterna, their first instinct is to make it a positive situation and laugh it

Laughter makes you happy, forget your problems at the moment and give you an opportunity to breathe, if only for a second. Laughter is innate, stimulates circulation, increases the immune system’s defenses and enhances mental functioning (Olpin & Hesson, 2016). When we laugh, we create a sense of calmness within. This calmness assists with reducing stress and anxiety. Therefore, it creates eustress, releases endorphins, and promotes psychological well-being (Olpin & Hesson, 2016). The movie Bridesmaids increases my endorphins and turns a gray day bright and sunny. I have been a bridesmaid in several family and friends, wedding party. Usually, I am the planner of the events for the bride. I can relate to some of the experiences of this wonderful