1 Using Humor to Maximize Learning Mary Kay Morrison

2 Purpose of Today’s Session The purpose of this session is to affirm, sustain and encourage learners in the practice of humor, not only as a personal tool to optimize a healthy life style, but to maximize the benefits of humor in everyday life.

3 Based on Using Humor to Maximize Learning Mary Kay Morrison published January 2008 by Rowman and Littlefield Education Chapter Titles The Tonic for Tired Educators Developing your Humor Being; A Nut is Born Mouse Droppings :Examining Brain Research and Humor Hurtful Humor; NO Laughing Matter The Humor Workout; Pumping Up with Practice It’s a Circus Out There Survival Humor for Stressed Leaders

4 What is humor? Find your partner Share what you know about humor Be ready to share a definition of humor with the group

5 Information Explosion Contributes to our Knowledge of Humor Three forms of Biological Inquiry (Sylwester 2000) Genetics (cells) Imaging Technology (brains) Evolutionary Psychology (Human Societies) “Anything you learned 2 years ago is out of date “ Jeri Janowski, Neuroscientist

6 A Closer Look at Humor What is Therapeutic Humor? Therapeutic humor is any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression, or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life’s situations. AATH Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor What is Humergy? “ Humergy describes the energy that radiates the optimistic joy of our inner spirit, reflects our unique personality, and nourishes a healthy mind/body balance.” Mary Kay Morrison

7 Humor Development Growing Up Funny Peek a Boo- Birth to Two Knock-Knock- 2 years to School Age Riddle De Dee- Early Elementary Years Punny Funny- Later Elementary through Teen Years Fun Finders- Peak Experience/Utopia

8 Understanding Humor through A Framework for Learning Context Process Content Where? How? What? Copyright Humor Quest

9 Positive Well Being Enhances Creativity Reduces Stress Supports Change Maximizes Memory Facilitates Communication

10 Contributes to Positive Well Being Excess fear and anxiety can cause severe stress. This stress can lead to severe health issues. Humor can relieve stress and promote healing. Humor counteracts depression. Humor raises self-esteem. Humor elevates mood. Humor improves relationships. Humor Therapy is a pioneering field of research (AATH Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor)

11 Research on Positive Psychology Humor is a complex, developmental, cognitive process that requires an environment of trust. Research generated from the National Association of Mental Health on Positive Emotionality identified this characteristics of individuals as those who are alert, enthusiastic, and energetic. Imaging technology on these brains revel the opposite patterns from those of people who are depressed. Humor activates the frontal lobes of the brain and requires several cognitive processes; working memory cognitive shifting and abstract thinking Fun and play can minimize the stressful conditions prevalent in most systems.

12 Enhances Memory Humor alerts the limbic system, the attentional center of the brain. Information is more likely to be remembered if it has meaning and contains an emotional “hook”. Humor gets attention. Humor requires processing of language discrepancies in order to “get the joke” Humor increases memory retrieval. Advanced language skills are at the core of humor development. One quality in identifying gifted students is recognizing their sense of humor. Humor is the number one characteristic that students desire in a teacher.

13 Enhances Creative Thinking and Problem Solving The same qualities that are necessary for creative thinking are found in the expression of humor: Imagination: Seeing the world a little differently is the core of humor Risk-taking: The ability to express “wild” thoughts and ideas Divergent thinking; making unusual connections and linking different elements emerge with both humor and creativity

14 Facilitates Communication Humor provides insights into your own behavior and that of others. Humor is part of emotional intelligence. It is the ability to recognize our own emotions and the emotions of others and to respond with positive energy-humergy! Humor increases friendliness and helpfulness The ability to laugh at oneself comes from an inner confidence and the skill to encourage others to laugh at you as well. It sends the message that you are human and make mistakes and allows others the freedom to do the same. If we are what we eat, I am cheap, fast and easy!

15 Supports the Change Process Change is difficult. When we can find the humor in a difficult situation we can begin to cope with the change. Humor builds group identity and solidarity

16 There is no doubt that we have been asked to accomplish more and more in our jobs. I think that the stress that this creates has led to several belief systems that permeate our culture. If we have fun, work will not get done!” “If I am silly, I will not be seen as a professional.” “If we are laughing, they will not be learning.” “I don’t have time for humor.” “We cannot measure humor and the effect that it has so it is “soft data” and does not have a place in the serious world” Myths about Humor

17 Humor is Risky! A lot of folks practice safe humor. They only feel safe laughing in the following situations: With children With animals With drugs, alcohol With strangers Making fun of someone else

18 Humorphobia; the fear of fun, laughter and humor Fear of not having time for humor because of accountability expectations. Fear of being perceived as silly, unproductive, an airhead and not as a professional. Fear of losing “control” Fear of inadequacy/not able to tell a joke coupled with inexperience in the use of humor (humor is not taught or modeled in college preparation programs) Fear of punishment or retaliation in an environment that is hostile or unaccustomed to humor. Fear of being made fun of/being the brunt of jokes

19 Humordoomers; people who use negative humor to control and manipulate others Humorphobia breeds humordoomers, skilled crafters who use subtle techniques to suppress humor in the workplace. Humordoomers are usually unhappy individuals stressed by the duel demands of accountability and limited time constraints. The humordoomer is a pessimistic leach, who can suck the humergy right out of you. Grown in a petrie dish of fear and anger, they are threatened by joyful energy and enthusiasm.

20 Inappropriate Humor When the impact is hurtful, it is usually inappropriate, even if the intent is not so. Ridicule Sarcasm Ethnic Humor Gender Humor. “I hate being laughed at!”

21 The Trust Factor: A Critical Component in creating an environment An indicator of trust in an organization is the ability to have fun FunWorks by Leslie Yerkes.

22 Humor Builds Trust Cultivate it in the Workplace Humergy=Trust  Supports enhanced communication skills/builds relationships  Changes behavior of individuals and groups  Relieves stress and promotes healing  Increases productivity  Reflects an environment of trust

23 Humor Styles Inventory Find your Partner (s) Discuss your options and ideas Review the jokes Complete the Humor Styles Inventory Use that discussion and the humor styles inventory as a basis for your initial assessment of your humor style.

24 Humor Workout You can improve your humor capacity with intentional practice. Gather base line data-humor styles inventory Observe humor; find role models Review your physical attributes; gender, culture, experiences Set your humor workout goals Trainers/mentors Facility/playground

25 Reflection Activity Write down your goals Examples: laugh more often each day, try a new form of play, tell more funny stories, find a supportive colleague Set a time line. Example: by the end of the month I will have two coaches in place and will have tried a new form of play each week. Identify your support system Celebrate your success; PARTY

26 Summary Humor defined; humergy Humor is developmental Humor benefits include: Contributes to Mind/Body Balance Maximizes Brain Power Enhances Creativity Facilitates Communication Supports the Change process Creates an Optimal Environment for Learning Humordoomers and Humorphobia challenge humergy Review the description of Humordoomer and Humorphobia Understand differences between Intent and Impact of humor Understanding your humor style contributes to increasing your humor capacity

27 Some Humor Resources Morrison, Mary Kay. Using Humor to Maximize Learning, Rowman and Littlefield Education. Blue Ridge Summit, PA. Dec McGhee, Paul E., Ph.D. Health, Healing and the Amuse System. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 4050 Westmark Drive, Dubuque, IA Sapolsky, Robert. Stress and Your Shrinking Brain. Discover, March 1999, pg Yerkes, Leslie. Fun Works: Creating Places Where People Love to Work. Berrett- Koehler Publishers, Inc., San Francisco, CA WEB sites Humor Quest Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) Humor Project World Laughter Tour RxLaughter

28 Final Thoughts “Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like there’s no one looking. Happiness is a journey not a destination.” If you are toobusy to laugh You aretoobusy!