Transcript WILLIAM FRY

WILLIAM FRY
• In 1971, Dr. William Fry of the Stanford
University Medical School started doing
empirical studies on the effects of humor and
laughter on the healing process.
• His results are now widely published.
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岳晓东制作
与国际幽默研究大师William Fry合影
Humor is one of the few therapeutic
strategies that does as much good for
the doctor as it does for the patient.
Prescription: You need humor!
法拉第的幽默治疗
增
强
身
心
健
康
• 英国著名化学家法拉第，由于长期紧张
工作，患头痛、失眠等症，经过多年医
治，未能根除，健康每况愈下。后来，
一位高明的医师给他开了一张奇怪的处
方：没写药名，只写了一句谚语：“一
个小丑进城，胜过一打医生。”
• 法拉第决定经常到马戏团看小丑表演，
每次都是大笑而归。从此，他的紧张情
绪逐渐松弛，不久，头痛、失眠的症状
也消失了。
What is laughter
• Laughter is a part of human behaviour regulated by
the brain. It helps humans clarify their intentions in
social interaction and provides an emotional context
to conversations.
• Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group
— it signals acceptance and positive interactions
with others. Laughter is sometimes seemingly
contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself
provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback.
“What helps people survive awful
circumstances is their ability to
detach and get beyond themselves.
This is seen in heroism and humor.”
-Victor Frankl
Ability to Find Humor and Laughter
Allows us to detach from the trauma for a moment
Offers a respite from the emotional chaos
 Provides an emotional catharsis
 Provides a way to get beyond defenses
 Gives us ballast and balance during difficult times
 Neutralizes anger, tension and fear
 Allows us to feel strong, resilient and hopeful
 If we can laugh, we know that we will survive
How do you feel now?
Humor and Laughter
• Humor and laughter strengthen our immune
systems and help us recover from illness, as
well as bring joy into our lives
• Laughter activates the chemistry of the will to
live and increases our capacity to fight disease.
• Laughing relaxes the body and reduces
problems associated with high blood pressure,
strokes, arthritis, and ulcers.
• Some research suggests that laughter may
also reduce the risk of heart disease.
Bringing Humor to Work
• Stock humorous magazines and newsletters
in waiting areas and restrooms
• Funny video or audio tapes in the lounge
• Artwork with playful themes
• Develop a humor events committee
• Keep a Smile-a-day board
Association for Applied and
Therapeutic Humor
www.AATH.org
World Laughter Tour
• Laughter is its Own Reward.
• Laughter reminds us that we are joyously and
joyfully natural beings, of nature not merely
surrounded by nature.
• Laughter reminds us of the ecstatic potential
of our existence.
• Laughter is the primary outer manifestation of
joy.
Steve Wilson
Let’s Laugh together
Let’s Laugh together
Let’s rejoice together!
The 7 Benefits of Laughter
• Cardiac Exercise- A belly laugh is equivalent to "an
internal jogging." Laughter can provide good
cardiac conditioning especially for those who are
unable to perform physical exercises.
• Blood Pressure - Women seem to benefit more
than men in preventing hypertension.
• Respiration - Frequent belly laughter empties your
lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a
cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing.
Especially beneficial for patient's who are suffering
from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.
The 7 Benefits of Laughter
• Muscle Relaxation - Belly laugh results in muscle
relaxation. While you laugh, the muscles that do not
participate in the belly laugh, relaxes. After you finish
laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start
to relax. So, the action takes place in two stages.
• Reduction of Stress Hormones - Laughter reduces at
least four of neuro-endocrine hormones associated
with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol,
dopac, and growth hormone.
• Immune System Enhancement - Clinical studies
have shown that humor strengthens the immune
system.
• Pain Reduction - Humor allows a person to "forget"
about pains such as aches, arthritis, etc.
Let’s laugh together
Welcomes you to attend the
22nd International Society for Humor
Studies
June 24-27, 2010
Local Host:
Dr. Xiaodong Yue
Department of Applied Social Studies
Use of Humor Therapy in History
• Humor has been used in medicine throughout
recorded history. One of the earliest mentions of
the health benefits of humor is in the book of
Proverbs in the Bible. As early as the 13th century,
some surgeons used humor to distract patients
from the pain of surgery.
• Humor was also widely used and studied by the
medical community in the early 20th century.
History of Chinese Humor
1. Humor hads a long history, but a short past in
Chinese society.
2. The first Chinese jokes book, 笑林(The Forestry
of Jokes), was published in about 2000 years ago.
3. The first Chinese humorisits are Laotze (老子)
and Zhuang Zi (庄子), the founders of Taoism
4. The Chinese humor has been underdeveloped
largely due to the influence of Confucianism.
岳晓东制作
中国人的幽默传统
尽管humor一词进人中国很晚，但“幽默”作
为喜剧美学的一种形式，在我国同样起源很早，
只是它在二十世纪以前一直以其他种种名目出
现诸如“滑稽”、 “科诨”等。中国幽默的
传统是一个有待系统研究的大题目，但目前暂
且可以循着这样三条线：
 俳优——戏剧——曲艺；
 寓言故事——民间笑话——政治笑话；
 民谣——文人散文诗词——话本小说——
各类文学作品。
The Past of Chinese
Humor Therapy