Jest for the health of it using humour to promote health. Finian Murray, Men s Health Development Officer IPH Open Conference 11 th October 2012

Transcription

1 Jest for the health of it using humour to promote health Finian Murray, Men s Health Development Officer IPH Open Conference 11 th October 2012

2 Mariana Funes Psychologists tell us that children laugh 400 times a day whereas adults only laugh 15 times. Those 385 laughs, where do they go? Laughter helps us detach and not take life so personally

3 Theories of humour - Superiority Only 3 theories have emerged from the two and a half thousand year period since the time of Plato The superiority theory - jokes work by being aggressive towards a third party Rather than physically attack someone, humour allows a person to symbolically kill their victim, to put them down E.g. when a comedian uses a heckler put down to shut up a noisy member of the audience

4 Doctor, the problem with me is that obesity runs in my family No. The problem with you is that no one runs in your family

5 Incongruity Incongruity theory argues that humour involves some kind of a mismatch of ideas or a confusion about the meanings of words It is the spark our brains generate in bringing two dissimilar objects together that creates the moment when we go Aha!

6 I like going into newsagent shops and saying, excuse me, is that Mars bar for sale? When he says, Yes, I say OK, I might be back later, I still have a few other ones to see.

7 Release theory Release theory Sigmund Freud in his book Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious was the first to put forward the release theory He argued that jokes exist to allow the harmless release of anti-social emotions or taboos We laugh at the shocks of hearing things that haven t previously been said, or things which shouldn t have been said Like the child pointing out that the monarch is naked in The Emperor s New Clothes

8 You don't appreciate a lot of stuff in school until you get older. Little things like being spanked every day by a middle aged woman: Stuff you pay good money for in later life."

9 Does humour have any health benefits? There are two schools of thought. On the positive side A recent study by professor Robin Dunbar found that laughter raised people s pain thresholds. His explanation is that shared social laughter causes an endorphin rush and the release of oxytocin in the brain same chemical reactions that we have to human touch Endorphins are natural opiates. They make us feel relaxed, encourage social and sexual interaction and increase our levels of trust.

10 Benefits cont. Drs L. Berk and D Berk study claims to prove that people who laugh more have healthier immune systems. Increase in heart rate produced by a good laugh had health benefits equivalent to 15 minutes on an exercise bike Stress hormones are reduced. Cortisol levels increase in an unhealthy way during stress. They decrease significantly with laughter Laughter has an anti-inflammatory effect. It can reduce inflammation and help relieve pain in arthritic conditions

11 On the negative side Researchers say that there is no real evidence people live longer because of laughter. It is only a placebo effect Robert Province argues that the much vaunted health benefits of laughter are probably coincidental, a consequence of the primary goal of laughter i.e. bringing people together. In fact, the health benefits of laughter may result from the social support it stimulates

12 Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis Jack Handey

13 Can humour be used to promote men s health? There is an argument to be made for using humour in delivering health messages Numerous studies in the field of advertising have noted that humour is the most effective tool for enhancing recall of advertisements. The advertising industry have long recognised the value of using humour to sell products This knowledge is beginning to become recognised in education. Humour strengthens the relationship between student and teacher, reduces stress, makes a course more interesting, and, if relevant to the subject, may even enhance recall of the material

14 Virginia Trooper It s not what s taught, but what s caught. And if we can get our students mouths open for laughter, we can slip in a little food for thought.

15 How does this work in practice? Let s find out bearing in mind that: Every joke has a target. Make sure the target deserves it. Dr Ian Banks, The Manual and Men at Work Joe Armstrong Avoid the extremes of glibness on the one hand or being overly serious on the other. Respectful humour can sometimes help set the right tone, and one in which everyone can feel comfortable. It s a tricky balance to strike, but you can do it. Some examples

16 You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is."

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20 If your shadow is shorter than your height, it's sunburn time

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23 I forgot to tell you, Fred said he might drop in

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26 Hello Andy, I haven t seen you in a while? I know, Doc. I ve been sick

27 The current financial crisis explained in a single picture: If things continue like this for much longer, there's a real risk that we may have to lay off "Eugene.

28 Evaluation Comments Very clear powerpoint presentation with enjoyable use of comic/funny slides which also conveyed message. GP Training course 21/10/10 Good presenter, interesting topics on slides and some humour. Training the trainers, Mountview FRC, 12 th July 2010 The tutor takes his job very seriously but can inject a bit of humour when necessary. Drogheda Partnership Saol project, 24/9/09 I enjoyed the lighter aspect of the training, a nice break. Student Nurse Training, DKIT 3/3/10

29 Humour can Help establish a bond with your audience Win over a hostile audience Keep the audience interested Emphasise or illustrate a point Help people remember you

30 Conclusion There are advantages and disadvantages to using humour in promoting health. If it is done incorrectly, humour can be a disaster but executed correctly, humour lightens the load, eases the burden, releases tension and helps get the message across

31 George Bernard Shaw We don t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing

32 Any Burning Questions??