For the past 50 years, the month of April has been designated as National Humor Month.
Established in 1976 by author and humorist Larry Wilde to promote the therapeutic benefits of laughter, the annual observance serves as a reminder to embrace joy and introduce more levity into our lives.
How much do you know about the therapeutic effects of humor and laughter? Take our quiz and find out.
A. Norman Lear
B. Norman Cousins
C. Norm Macdonald
D. Norman Rockwell
E. Norman Fell
Answer: B. Norman Cousins is credited with pioneering laughter therapy. In 1964, Cousins used laughter as a treatment method for his own debilitating ankylosing spondylitis. His approach eventually led to the establishment of laughter therapy as a recognized practice in the field of health and wellness.
Norman Lear created and produced many popular and groundbreaking 1970s sitcoms, including “All in the Family,” “Maude,” and “Sanford and Son.” Norm Macdonald was a Canadian stand-up comedian and “Saturday Night Live” cast member.
Norman Rockwell was an American painter and illustrator, most famous for his cover illustrations of everyday life for The Saturday Evening Post. Norman Fell was an American actor who was best known for his comedic portrayal of landlord Stanley Roper on the 1970s hit TV show “Three's Company,” for which he won a Golden Globe Award.
A. Stress relief
B. Immune system boost
C. Increased bladder control
D. Pain relief
E. Improved cardiovascular function
Answer: C. Better bladder control is not a health benefit of laughter. In fact, urinary incontinence is one of the handful of physical conditions that may be exacerbated by laughing, due to increased abdominal pressure that overwhelms the pelvic floor muscles, leading to involuntary urine leakage. All the other benefits listed have been scientifically proven.
A. Affiliative humor
B. Aggressive humor
C. Self-enhancing humor
D. Self-defeating humor
E. None of the above
Answer: D. Rodney Dangerfield was known for his self-deprecating catchphrase "I don't get no respect!" and his monologues along that theme.
Self-defeating humor is used when attempting to please others by poking fun at oneself. Affiliative humor entails cracking jokes and engaging in banter to bond with others and recognize the humor in everyday life. (Think Jerry Seinfeld.) Aggressive humor uses sarcasm, teasing, criticism, and ridicule at the expense of others. (Think Don Rickles.) Self-enhancing humor laughs at oneself or at the absurdity of a situation in a constructive way, ala Jon Stewart.
[Curious about which category best describes your sense of humor? Check out this quiz.]
A. Child’s Play
B. The Gesundheit Institute
C. Clowns Without Borders
D. Kidding Around
E. Patch Me Up
Answer: B. Patch Adams founded The Gesundheit Institute in 1971 as a model of holistic medical care based on the belief that “the health of the individual cannot be separated from the health of the family, the community, the society and the world.”
Child’s Play is a charity that provides games, toys, and gaming consoles to about 200 hospital pediatric wards worldwide. Clowns Without Borders is an international organization that visits communities in crisis (such as natural disaster areas and refugee camps) to entertain and lift the spirits of suffering people.
Kidding Around is an international yoga organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of yoga to children. Patch Me Up is the name of two different companies, one is a clothing repair platform, and the other produces wellness patches.
A. Activation of the abdominal muscles that naturally occurs when laughing
B. Laughing at people attempting yoga poses
C. Laughing instead of crying when you contort yourself into a difficult and painful yoga pose
D. A form of exercise that encourages participants to laugh for no reason
E. There is no such thing.
Answer D. Developed in 1995 by Indiana physician Dr. Madan Kataria, laughter yoga is based on the belief that the physical body cannot distinguish between simulated and spontaneous laughter. Therefore, forcing oneself to laugh provides all the same benefits as reflexive laughter. Practiced in more than 110 countries, laughter yoga incorporates laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques.
A. Adding humorous reading material to your waiting room
B. Playing funny TV shows in your reception area
C. Demonstrating comical pratfalls
D. Displaying humorous photos of your kids or pets in your office
E. Placing funny signs in public areas
Answer: C. While the AMA encourages humor in clinical settings, it draws the line at demonstrating pratfalls. All the other suggestions are AMA-approved.
If laughter is the best medicine, then the prescription is simple: make space for humor. Take time out of every day to simply yuck it up; your body and mind will thank you. The following video clip should get you started:
Sources:
Featured Image: Adobe, License Granted
Other Image: Designed by Freepik
Science News Today
Psychology Today
Gesundheit! Institute
Laughter Yoga International
AMA Journal of Ethics
Recent Posts
Share On: