Humor (courtesy Dr. Andy McLean)
Today, I’m not referring to Galen’s four humors (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm), which ancient physicians believed governed health and temperament. Instead, I’m talking about humor in the modern sense: our ability to recognize, create, and share what is considered “funny.”
Every essay on humor in healthcare begins with the line “laughter is the best medicine.” This essay will bravely break with tradition immediately after mentioning this only once.
Some people enjoy slapstick comedy, while others prefer more subtle or complex humor – double entendres or puns. Some gravitate toward lighthearted jokes, whereas others appreciate darker, more ironic forms of comedy.
And, yes, laughter, particularly when shared, can result in increased oxytocin, monoamines, and endorphins (and, with the latter, sometimes a reduction in pain). Several studies, including this one from Bennett and Lengacher, suggest that laughter may have beneficial effects on immune function. To be more specific, though, research, including this study from Dionigi, et al., generally finds the greatest psychological benefits from affiliative and self-enhancing forms of humor, as opposed to more aggressive or self-defeating humor styles, which are associated with less favorable mental health outcomes.
That said, and from a psychological standpoint, such humor is sometimes viewed as an adaptive defense mechanism, a way of coping and reframing the world in a way that allows the “humorist” a sense of mastery. Workers in many high-stress professions, including emergency medicine, law enforcement, and the military, often use dark humor as a coping mechanism. Although it can promote cohesion and emotional resilience, it also requires awareness of context and audience to avoid alienating others.
In educational settings, then, appropriately used humor can also enhance attention, improve recall, reduce learner anxiety, and strengthen the relationship between teachers and learners. And “appropriately used,” is an important qualifier for many reasons: A number of jokes used by faculty when I was in medical school would definitely not fly now….
As educators and healthcare professionals, we often focus on serious matters: illness, suffering, performance, and responsibility. Yet humor remains one of the most accessible tools for fostering connection, resilience, and well-being. So read the comics. Watch your favorite comedy show or film. Spend time with people who make you laugh. And make it “affiliative.” It’s literally good for you, and good for your patients.
Reminder, if you would like to share inspirational quotes, stories, or ideas which might be helpful to others, please feel free to email Dr. Melissa Naslund at melissa.naslund@UND.edu.
