Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Humour is officially recognized in positive psychology as one of the 24 ‘character strengths’. However, laughter has an uneasy relationship with positive psychology, despite being key to communicating joy and happiness.The Positive Psychology of Laughter and Humour corrects this disconnect by combining academic insight with real-world experience. Drawing on the authors’ diverse backgrounds and expertise, this is the first academic volume dedicated to the rarely discussed topic of laughter and humour in positive psychology.
Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky, Merv Neal and Jerome Carson demonstrate how laughter and humour differ, and how both can be applied within positive psychology to boost mood and maintain positive outcomes.The Positive Psychology of Laughter and Humour includes case studies and real-world insight as well as providing a methodological and theoretical background to the topic, giving rigorous theoretical and methodological insight for researchers, and including pedagogical sections in each chapter useful for teachers and researchers.
The amount of attention to detail given in this book is no joke. It takes you on a journey starting from the history of laughter and humor, all the way to the latest research and application of laughter in a diverse range of contexts. Whether you’re interested in laughter as a general topic or looking to incorporate laughter into your therapeutic toolbox, this book presents you with case studies, the science and future direction of laughter and humor. Essential reading for researchers, practitioners, and anyone with an interest in laughter.
Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky completed her PhD in psychology at the University of Bolton in 2023 following an MSc in health psychology. Her contributions include the Laughie (Laugh Intentionally Everyday) laughter prescription and Positive Autoethnography.
Merv Neal is “Australia’s Leading Laughter Expert”, and the CEO of Laughter Yoga Australia. He has appeared on numerous television programmes and is a professional speaker and facilitator, researcher, citizen scientist, Laughter Yoga trainer and Laughie practitioner.
Jerome Carson is Professor of Psychology at the University of Bolton. He is interested in the field of alcohol addiction and recovery from a lived experience perspective, with much of his research in positive psychology and mental health recovery.
Foreword; Arthur Asa Berger
Chapter 1. A brief history of laughter and humour
Chapter 2. A brief history of Positive Psychology
Chapter 3. Laughter and humour in positive psychology
Chapter 4. The science of laughter and humour
Chapter 5. Applied laughter and humour
Chapter 6. Laughter therapy: Insight from a laughter practitioner
Chapter 7. Laughter and humour case studies
Chapter 8. From Covid-19 to the Laughie Challenge
Chapter 9. Citizen science research: A 30-day laughter prescription
Chapter 10. The future of laughter and humour in positive psychology