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Why is humor important
Gender differences with humor and laughter
Why is humor important
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Humor and Gender
One of the many differences between women and men is humor and you may think that humor is more of a personal trait an individual characteristic and that differs by person. However, speaking on more of a general view humor among women tends to have similar traits that are completely different from men humor. Women are more prone to use humor in a way of self-deprecating. They use it to make a situation that otherwise would be very sad become lightweight to speak of. Men sometimes don’t understand the line of when their humor has crossed the line or when humor shouldn’t be used. In occasions being serious is the best way to deal with the situation while laughter helps ease the mood it is not always the best thing to do.
Humor is much more important than we may think studies have shown the importance of humor in marriages. One of the articles states, “They found that in couples who had major life stressors such as death in the family or a lost job, the husband’s use of humor during problem solving was a warning sign.” Going on to say that these couples would later be most likely to separate if not get a divorce. The use of humor
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Men don’t show importance to whether the woman they are talking to makes them laugh or not but on them being able to initiate that laughter. They want to be the ones to make the women laugh because to them it shows interest not to mention men find them more attractive. This behavior has been seen for years it is the way many relay on for signals of interest in the opposite gender. Looking at younger generations boys use humor to attract the girls they are interested and the same traits are seen. Humor is a great way for genders to communicate as long as it is considering the
...y different reasons. Some people even laugh when something horrible occurs, it is a method of escape from what horrors or mishaps are going on around you. “Many psychotherapists find humor a valuable tool in helping their patients to solve their social and emotional problems.” (G. Samuel) Chief bromden was having many problems once he learned to laugh especially at him self he was mostly cured. He was considered a chronic but after Mcmuprhy showed him that he has the ability to laugh and coincide with a group he was some what cured. “jokes and commissions enable individuals to defend against anxieties, fear, anger, and other disturbing emotions.”(G. Samuel) This was true in the chief’s and Harding’s case. Both of them left the institution.
What is the most common perception held in this country concerning the people and the way they live in the South? The perception most of the country has about life down here in the South is one of slow-paced living, simple-minded people, and stubborn, unwarranted pride. One of the best ways to combat this perception is through the use of humor; Lewis Grizzard was one of the best at this, because he could take the experiences from his own life as well as the lives of others in the South and turn them into humorous semi-fictional stories. He was one of the preeminent fictional authors this country has ever seen because of his ability to connect with people and joke about everyday life in the south, without offending the subjects of those jokes, despite the popular opinion the rest of the country held.
Humor helps a person to dissolve stressful emotions, it’s a creative way to mentally solve a problem without being depress about the circumstances. Humor encourages a person to realize that there is a problem and something needs to be done about the situation, than a person is not in serious or stressful mode. Sharing your problems with other people helps to ease the pain and with humor added into the problem, helps a person to talk about their feelings and the person who is listening can relax too, because there is somewhat of sense of humor in the problem that does not put the listener in a discomfort position. With this humor mechanism a person can actually realize they have problem and that they have to solve it, instead being depress about the
For as long as there have been jokes, there have been people saying that women can’t tell them. For over a century figures in popular culture have publicly peddled this claim of misconception. In 1884 Richard Grant White, one of the most powerful cultural critics of the 19th century, wrote, “a sense of humor is the rarest qualities in a women”, to Jerry Lewis in 1998 stating he “cannot sit and watch a lady diminish her qualities to the lowest common denominator”, and more recently in 2012 Adam Carolla, arguing, “The Reason why you know more funny dudes than funny chicks is that dudes are funnier than chicks” (Moss). If there is anything that can put these men in their place it is the cinematic success of Paul Feig’s 2011 film Bridesmaids. Since its release, the film has been nominated for 24 different awards, won 6, and has generated over $288 million in sales worldwide, making it the highest-grossing-R-rated female comedy of all time (Buckley 5). Bridesmaids, thus, represents how the symbol of women in the space of cinema is being challenged and changed.
Psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists study humor because it is a fundamental culture value, but they still can’t determine why certain things make some people laugh and others not. There are “humor quotient” tests that are designed to measure an individual’s sense of humor, but these tests are questionable. These tests aren’t accurate because almost all humor depends on cultural background knowledge and language skills. Not every person in the whole world, or even in one country share the same background knowledge and skills, therefore they cannot have the same type of humor. “The fact remains that individuals vary in their appreciation of humor” (Rappoport 9). Since humor varies from individual to individual, humor lies in the individual. How successful or funny a joke is depends on how the person receives the joke, humor cannot be measured by a statistical
When there is humor involved people seem to enjoy things way better, the reason for this is that people will
For this reason, humor holds the capability to bring people together and lead to something, like change. Mary O’Hara writes “[comedy provides] a counterbalance to bigotry and prejudice” (O’Hara 106) to prove that humor can do more than make someone laugh, but to reinforce the truth. Humor is a natural human behavior that allows people to escape the mundane, laugh at themselves and also the world around them. O’Hara also writes that “comedy can have a profound impact on how we feel, and even how we act” (O’Hara 110). If humor can change the way we think and act, then it consequently has the ability to bring forth social
Humor can come in many different forms. Many people are aware of the blatant humor of slapstick, but it takes a keener mind to notice the subtle detail in sarcasm or satire. In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift was able to create a piece of literature addressing the faults of the Irish culture while embedding in a humorous essay. Swift’s satire allows for the gravity of the Irish standings to be exploited under the disguise of a proposal for economic benefit.
Various populations can benefit from the therapeutic use of humor, often it is used with either the exceptionally young or old populations, but the benefits of humor extend beyond age and gender limits. Commonly, it’s implemented in young populations with severe to mild physical or mental disabilities or with those experiencing serious and terminal illness (Saper, 1990). Humor is used as a method of coping with or coming to terms with life changing illnesses for both old an...
Examine fully the writers use of humour in The Opposite Sex by Laurie Lee This essay aims to examine the use of humour in Laurie Lee's short story 'The Opposite Sex'. It tells the story of a teenage boy who is led to his first sexual experience. As much of Laurie Lee's writing was autobiographical or loosely based upon his own life we may assume that this is the tale of Lee's first sexual encounter, yet there is no definite proof to support this argument. Lee was born in 1914 and raised in his birth-town of Slad, Gloucestershire where he later went on to set many of his novels, including 'The Opposite Sex'. His other works were set in countries in which he had spent a lot of time whilst travelling as a young man during and after the Second World War.
The spectrum of therapeutic techniques available within the health care continuum is very complex and varied. From traditional medicine, to holistic remedies, and anything in between, nurses have a rather large arsenal at their disposal when it comes to treating the patients that are under their care. Humor as an alternative therapy has long been understood as a proven means to aid in the recovery process. “With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health” (Smith & Segal, 2015). The purpose of this paper is to discuss situations in which humor would be a viable alternative therapy
Never forget to laugh. "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it" (Cosby). Life is difficult for everyone. It is how people deal with these strives and struggle is what matters. Sometimes, the best way to get a break from the hardships of life is to simply laugh with friends and family. It’s a Balance process. Some people can be caught up in life’s problems and forget to laugh. Laughter is the mental medicine for life. Laughter supports the health of the body. Laughter can break up the quietness in a room. Laughter can change the room from black and white to a rainbow of colors. Laughter is a result of looking at something in a positive light. Is the glass half empty or half full? Whatever the circumstance, never underestimate the power of a good giggle. Never forget to laugh.
Most laughter is not about humor; it is about relationships between people. When we laugh, we’re often communicating playful intent. So laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. As Victor Borge once said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There’s a difference between “laughing with” and “laughing at.” People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group.
Writers at the time such as Aristophanes and Menander wrote comedy similarly to how we do today, mocking politicians, fellow writers, and Greek philosophers (Mark Cartwright). The word ‘comedy’ is derived from Middle English, from Medieval Latin comoedia, from Latin, ‘drama with a happy ending’ (Merriam-Webster). This joyful type of performance may be why we commonly use the word ‘comedy’ to talk about jokes, humor, and hilarious performers. Comedy is meant to bring us joy and relief from reality’s negativity. Mary O’Hara wrote about comedy for a BBC article titled “How Comedy Makes us Better People”: “Comedy is more than just a pleasant way to pass an evening, humour more than something to amuse. They’re interwoven into the fabric of our everyday existence. Whether you’re sharing an amusing story down the pub, making a self-deprecating joke after someone pays you a compliment or telling a dark joke at a funeral, humour is everywhere. (O’Hara)” This is certainly an accurate statement about modern comedy. Comedy is not sadness, but rather a way to forget the woes of everyday life. What is the point in humorous incidents and ridiculous jokes if they do not make a person smile or laugh so hard their gut
Some people use humor to hide from their real emotions. Using humor to help get through the difficult times is a lot different than using humor to hide from them.