Overview

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.

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9781837538355

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Reviews

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. -- Dr Gulcan Garip, University of Derby, UK I thoroughly recommend this book to those seeking a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to a recent fascinating confluence of laughter, humour, and positive psychology for practical benefits. It is a cutting-edge work presenting diverse academic, practitioner, and personal perspectives. Together, these offer important insights into the current situation, how that evolved historically, and where it might be heading. -- Mark C. Weeks, Nagoya University, Japan As an educator who has been teaching humour studies for over 25 years, I am extremely enthusiastic about endorsing this exceptional publication. It is one of the most comprehensive and informative books that I have reviewed on the psychology of laughter and humour. I have no doubt that this book will quickly advance to the forefront in the psychology community as the ‘bible’ for laughter and humour studies. -- Mary Kay Morrison, Founding Director, Association For Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) Humor Academy A bedside companion for anyone interested in laughter and humour. I am truly impressed by all the chapters and have also learned so much. The depth of research and engaging writing style make the book a compelling read that I believe will resonate with a wide audience. -- Nilgun Kuru Alici, Associate Professor, Hacettepe University, Turkey Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky and co-authors offer a significant contribution to laughter as therapy in this meticulously researched exploration of humour, laughter, and positive psychology. Gonot-Schoupinsky’s development of The Laughie and The Laugh-Thrive model offers a unique method of prescribing and self-prescribing laughter, encouraging readers to embrace this source of joy and wellbeing and not leave it to chance. Grounded in a positive psychology framework, the book becomes even more robust. The inclusion of positive autoethnography provides insightful narratives into the benefits and application of laughter and humour in diverse settings. -- Ros Ben-Moshe MPH, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Public Health and Psychology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, and Author of The Laughter Effect: How to Build Joy, Resilience and Positivity in Your Life and Laughing at Cancer: How to Heal with Love, Laughter and Mindfulness This book takes us on a laughter journey with 3 global experts. I wholeheartedly encourage people to read this practical journey to find and experience the joys of Laughter Therapy or Laughter Yoga. Author Merv Neal, was and still is, an inspiration to me and others with chronic disease to help our life journeys be full of laughter. This book is practical, real and the first of its kind. I will continue to use the book and the advice from these experts to help improve the lives of others with chronic disease. -- Professor Paul Bennett RN PhD FISN, Griffith University, Australia A very interesting and important contribution to humour studies, written in an accessible style, with many useful charts and diagrams relating to humour and laughter and a distinctive focus on positive psychology. -- Professor Emeritus Arthur Asa Berger, San Francisco State University, USA

Author Information

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.

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