The monthly, members-only, e-zine keeps AATH members updated on the latest developments in the world of applied and therapeutic humor. Each link will open a new window for anything outside the AATH website. All web links below have been carefully checked and worked at the time of publication. If the link does not take you to the listed article, please contact the owners of that website about finding that article. Disclaimer: Published by Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. AATH accepts no responsibility for any claims, either expressed or implied, in this publication. The information and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of AATH, its officers, directors, staff, or members. |
December 2005
Important Notice:
Members who consult the AATH E-zine know that the editor regularly states that the association of laughter and endorphin release has not been scientifically proven. This may be changing. In a recent study, Dr. Lee Berk of Loma Linda University in Southern California demonstrates endorphin release in a group of subjects who watched a comic video. This study has gone through peer review and has been presented at a major medical meeting, however it has not yet been published nor have these findings been independently repeated by other investigators. Both need to be done before we should fully embrace this finding. However, in light of Dr. Berk’s findings, the E-zine editor will no longer be correcting authors and speakers claiming the association of laughter and endorphins. Still, we advise caution in stating this until Berk's research has been reviewed and published.
Humor Research:Stanford School of Medicine Office of Communication and Public Affairs
GENDER DIFFERENCES ARE A LAUGHING MATTER, STANFORD BRAIN STUDY SHOWS
November 7, 2005
The first-of-its-kind imaging study showed that women activate the parts of the brain involved in language processing and working memory more than men when viewing funny cartoons. Women were also more likely to activate with greater intensity the part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings in response to new experiences. http://mednews.stanford.edu
News release by Ananova, University of Graz
Dr. Ilona Papousek, March 2004
Research, conducted at Graz University in Austria, showed that laughter therapy helped people recovering from strokes lower their blood pressure. www.crystalinks.com
Rx Laughter
Description of Rx Laughter per Sherry Dunay Hilber, Founder:
Rx Laughter advocates the importance of humanistic health care for seriously ill patients & their families from diagnosis thru treatment. We do this by creating, developing, designing and implementing initiatives that include the use of humor for the patient during medical treatments as a credible, scientifically-based prescription ("Rx") of laughter for each patient, and as ongoing coping resource for their families & friends. http://www.rxlaughter.org/
AATH in the NewsExamining the Research on Humor: Being Cautious About Our Conclusions ©1999
Originally published as the "President's Column" in Therapeutic Humor, Publication of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor, Summer, 1999, Vol. XIII, (3), p. 3.
By Steven M. Sultanoff, Ph.D.(http://www.humormatters.com/bio.htm)
If we have not examined the research, from where have we drawn our conclusions about the health benefits of humor? For me, this data comes primarily from health newsletters, from the media such as popular magazine articles, and from presentations by other humor professionals. Imagine relying on the media and word of mouth to accurately report research!
http://www.humormatters.com
APPLIED HUMOR STORIES IN THE NEWS - BLURBS OF BROADCAST
NY 1 TV News broadcasts "ComedyCures Kids For Katrina Relief" event 750
Kids, Jazz Legend Warren Batiste and Saranne Rothberg of ComedyCures.
Canadian TV flies to NY to follow a week in the life of Saranne Rothberg,
ComedyCures Founder and AATH Treasurer: Single Mom, CEO, Performer, Live.
AATH member, Rev. Susan Sparks, will be appearing on a new talk show on faith and culture hosted by Naomi Judd (country singer and mother of Ashley and Wynona). The show, "Naomi's New Morning," launches Sunday, November 27th at 10am on Hallmark Channel and will air weekly. Susan will be a regular guest on the program, offering humor and insight to the themes of the day.
HUMOR in the NEWS:
UCW Entertainment News Wire
AuthorsintheSpotLight.com Features Author and Clown, Forrest Wheeler, in Online Interview
November 1, 2005
“…A active sense of humor enables us to create friendships, distance ourselves from unpleasant situations, makes us more productive and a healthier and happier person."
http://news.ucwe.com
Lansing State Journal
Discipline is serious stuff - but humor helps, too
By Christine Rook, November 2, 2005
…a plucky comment can disarm a kid who is about to lay nuclear waste to everyone within reach. Just follow this expert advice: • Never make cutting or sarcastic comments about your kids. • Realize that humor is useful only some of the time and only with some children. • Learn to laugh at yourself. • Be playful. www.lsj.com
TelevisionPoint.Com News
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Tamil avatar from Nov. 11
November 2, 2005
Out of the five contestants in each episode, a winner is selected for the first ten weeks, which form the preliminary rounds. The 11th and 12th episodes are the semifinals and the 13th episode is the final. www.televisionpoint.com
NOW Magazine—The Goods in Toronto
Laugh till it heals-
A deep belly chuckle may lower blood pressure and boost immunity, even if you fake it
By Elizabeth Bromstein
Some believe chortling releases endorphins and boosts the immune system. There have also been suggestions that it lowers blood pressure, opens the diaphragm and allows more oxygen into the brain and body, and can help prevent or treat heart disease, cancer and depression. www.nowtoronto.com
Time Magazine
That's Funny! Seniors are increasingly taking the stage as, yes, stand-up comedians. And not just for laughs
Laura Koss-Feder, November 7, 2005
Rothman's performing instincts blossomed when his three children gave him a gift certificate for stand-up-comedy classes on his 75th birthday. www.time.com
NewsReleaseWire.com
Motivating with Humor: Speaking of Motivation
By Barry Maher, November 9, 2005
Humor's effectiveness in diffusing anger and breaking down resistance can be particularly important in today's work environment. www.expertclick.com
Madison.com (Special for the Capital Times)
Images: Laughter is therapeutic
By Barbara Quirk, November 8, 2005
It has been my experience after a lifetime career in geriatrics that humor throughout life, but especially in later years, is not only good for us, it is essential. www.madison.com
USATODAY
Women may enjoy humor more — when it's funny
By Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press, November 7, 2005
But they (Dr. Allen L. Reiss and associates) were surprised when their studies of how the male and female brains react to humor showed that women were more analytical in their response, and felt more pleasure when they decided something really was funny. www.usatoday.com
Tucson Citizen
Laughing Matters
By Sandra Valdez Gerdes, November 7, 2005
"Kids laugh several hundred times a day, but adults may not laugh even 20 times a day," (E-zine ed. note: unproven claim) said Jackie Gill, a certified laughter leader and president of the one-year-old Tucson Laughter Club. www.tucsoncitizen.com
Lake County Leader & Advertiser Online Edition
Don't lose the gifts of humor and satire
By Paul Fugleberg, November 16, 2005
Humor and satire are two things that humans rely on to keep their sanity in situations where everything is unraveling. What kind of situations? Virtually everything and everywhere: leaderadvertiser.com
JoongAug Daily
Sexual dysfunction theatre cures ignorance with humor
By Park Soo-mee, November 17, 2005
In between skits poking fun at such bedroom troubles, the doctors come on stage to talk straight about syndromes such as prostrate hypertrophy. http://joongangdaily.joins.com
China View
Timeless art of laughter: Japan’s Izumi Kyogen
November 17, 2005
"Laughter is a universal language, and Kyogen is common people's art of laughter," said Izumi Machi, the 20th head of the 500-year-old Izumi school of Kyogen. http://news.xinhuanet.com
HindustanTimes
Bollywood readies for laughter riot
By Subhash K. Jha (IANS), November 13, 2005
Says David Dhawan: "Everyone wants a good laugh. It's as therapeutic as a good cry. Providing laughter is far tougher. www.hindustantimes.com
So These Scientists Go Into a Lab to See What’s Funny: They find gender differences in how humor affects the brain
By Keay DavidsonMonday, November 21, 2005
Yet, as they reported in an article for the Nov. 7 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, there's a puzzle: When men and women analyzed the same cartoons, different parts of their brains tended to light up on the fmri screen. This hints that for some unknown reason, male and female brains tend to process information about cartoons in different ways.http://sfgate.com
East Valley Tribune.com
Proponents say laughter can make you healthier, more confident
Orange County Register, November 24, 2005
Tarail said the laughter is good therapy for her Parkinson’s. www.eastvalleytribune.com
Florida Baptist Witness
Breakpoint: Wacky Witness: Using humor to save souls
By Charles Colson, December 1, 2005
What did the Bible say about talking to the dead? My friend’s answer: “It says you should speak very loudly because the first thing that goes when you’re dead is your hearing.” www.floridabaptistwitness.com
The Lowell Sun
Cruel humor, November 29, 2005
Silverman makes light of the worst day in this nation's history -- Sept. 11, 2001. The horrific events of that day have remained untouched by comedians for more than four years. www.lowellsun.com
The World of HUMOR
HUMOR IN THE NEWS: RELATED ARTICLES
The Australian
Subjective misery is a study in the bleeding obvious
By Stephen Matchett, November 3, 2005
ONLY a cynical hack would make fun of people who believe in the importance of happiness – so here goes… The trendsetters already are scientifically surveying and sampling subjects, and reporting their results to a dedicated database. And because it is academe, there is the inevitable journal, which is called – you guessed it – the Journal of Happiness Studies. www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Zenit News Agency
Pope Tells of 2 Requisites for Happiness: Comments on Psalm 111(112) on All Souls Day
November 2, 2005
The secret of happiness is docility to God and generosity to the needy, says Benedict XVI. www.zenit.org
Today—999 Today Health Channel
November 8, 2005
Marital happiness is key to fighting off flu UK scientists have discovered that bereavement is bad and marriage is good for the immune response to the annual flu jab. www.999today.com
ON LINE Opinion
Be Happy Not Rich
By John McKinnon, November 17, 2005
These measures reveal that, in general, happiness in western countries has not increased despite significant increases in wealth since the end of World War II. www.onlineopinion.com.au
New Jersey Media Group
Be thankful... it may help you live longer
By MAKEBA SCOTT HUNTER, HERALD NEWS,
November 24, 2005
As a result, research by members of the positive psychology movement has shown a strong correlation between living a grateful life and increased health and happiness. www.bergen.com
The Pueblo Chiefton Online
Personal happiness a state of mind - or is it?
By KATE SANTICH, KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS, November 24, 2005
Even if we are genetically predisposed to happiness, they argue, it is only a predisposition. It doesn’t mean environment can’t trump DNA. www.chieftain.com
Wired News
Dalai Lama Gets Meditation Lesson
By Dan Orzech, November 30, 2005
The research is taking neuroscientists into realms not often studied in Western labs. Davidson's team at the University of Wisconsin, for example, is exploring what states like compassion or happiness look like in the brain. www.wired.com
UWNews.org
Husband's willingness to be influenced by wife, share power are key predictors of newlywed happiness, stability, UW study shows.
February 20, 1998
What they found was that these successfully married couples did not often use active listening techniques such as paraphrasing their spouses, or summarizing their partner's feelings or content of their statements. They also almost never validated their spouse's feelings. www.uwnews.org
Bob Nozik, E-zine Editor ezine@aath.org
