Humor in psychotherapy: Is it good or bad for the client?

Abstract

Although little systematic empirical research conclusively supports the contention that humor in, as, or with psychotherapy is beneficial, the past 15 years or so have witnessed a burgeoning advocacy of its use. Most of the literature advocating the use of humor as well as some of the research studies are briefly reviewed in this article. The latter are found wanting in terms of design, methodology, and definitive results. Employing a cognitive-behavioral or social learning model, we suggest a functional analysis to explore the complex nature of the interlacing components of the humor concept and experience as well as to expose the complicated mechanisms by which mirth may effect the significant ingredients of the psychotherapeutic process to produce positive change. Finally, specific humor strategies and techniques and their effects are briefly discussed. We conclude that deliberately bringing together humor and psychotherapy is not without its risks. As in the case of copulating porcupines, such a union, although potentially productive, should be consummated very carefully.

Humor in Therapy: The Case for Training Therapists in its Uses and Risks

“…Fry (in press) was equally enthusiastic about the beneficial roles that humor can play in clinical interventions but also acknowledged that there are circumstances in which it can be detrimental. Saper (1987) suggested that improper humor is any humor that "humiliates, deprecates, or undermines the self-esteem, intelligence, or well-being of a client" (p. 366). Surely no one would disagree.…”

“…to remember that the use of humor and laughter in therapy is not a goal in itself but one option for facilitating therapy" (p. 162). Saper (1987) explicitly predicted a disaster if the adoption of humor in psychotherapy was "premature." Appendix B presents clinicians' specific cautions.…”

“…In his review of humor in psychotherapy, Saper (1987) defined humor "as an affective, cognitive, or aesthetic aspect of a person, stimulus, or event that evokes such indications of amusement, joy, or mirth as the laughing, smiling, or giggling response. The personality trait sense of humor embraces at least two human capacities: appreciation, or the set to perceive things as being funny, and creativity, or the ability to say and do funny things, to be witty.…”

“…Little has changed since Saper's (1987) review of humor in psychotherapy in which he called for more controlled empirical proof of the effectiveness and value of humor, while acknowledging that such research would be "formidable, if not impossible" (p. 366). Other reviewers examining the literature in the subsequent decade and beyond, such as Salameh and Fry (in press), are decidedly more sanguine about the supportive empirical work affirming the value of humor in therapy to both the client and the process itself.…”

Using humour in counselling mentally retarded clients: A preliminary study

“…There have been some precautionary concems regarding possible destructive uses of humour in therapy (Bloch, Browning and McGrath, 1983;Kubie, 1971;Kuhlman, 1984;Saper, 1987). For the most part, though, humour has been considered to possess at least the potential for therapeutic effectiveness both for clients (Banmen, 1982;Foster, 1978;Kuhlman, 1984;Mindess, 1976;Olson, 1976;Poland, 1971) and for counsellors (Killinger, 1977).…”