Article Version of Record

Humor and Resiliency: Towards a Process Model of Coping and Growth

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Kuiper, Nicholas A.

Abstract / Description

This article considers how humor may fit within a resiliency perspective. Following a brief overview of resiliency approaches, including selected work on positive psychology, several lines of research that provide initial support for resiliency effects of humor on stress and trauma are highlighted. This work ranges from anecdotal case report descriptions of facilitative humor use in extremely traumatic situations (e.g., paramedics), to more rigorous studies examining moderator and cognitive appraisal effects of humor on psychological well-being. Although these initial findings are quite promising, it is noted that some resiliency-based approaches to humor are limited by a sole focus on humor as a positive attribute. As such, a humor styles model, which acknowledges both the adaptive and maladaptive aspects of humor, is used to describe broader avenues of research within a resiliency perspective. This process orientation to humor use also highlights the importance of both negative and positive emotion regulation in modulating coping and growth. This model is then used to comment on limitations and potential extensions of current resiliency perspectives on humor, including programs and exercises that attempt to train humor use in a facilitative manner.

Keyword(s)

humor resiliency stress coping challenge appraisals distancing growth

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2012-08-29

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

8

Issue

3

Page numbers

475–491

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Kuiper, N. A. (2012). Humor and Resiliency: Towards a Process Model of Coping and Growth. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 8(3), 475–491. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i3.464
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Kuiper, Nicholas A.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-21T10:00:40Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-21T10:00:40Z
  • Date of first publication
    2012-08-29
  • Abstract / Description
    This article considers how humor may fit within a resiliency perspective. Following a brief overview of resiliency approaches, including selected work on positive psychology, several lines of research that provide initial support for resiliency effects of humor on stress and trauma are highlighted. This work ranges from anecdotal case report descriptions of facilitative humor use in extremely traumatic situations (e.g., paramedics), to more rigorous studies examining moderator and cognitive appraisal effects of humor on psychological well-being. Although these initial findings are quite promising, it is noted that some resiliency-based approaches to humor are limited by a sole focus on humor as a positive attribute. As such, a humor styles model, which acknowledges both the adaptive and maladaptive aspects of humor, is used to describe broader avenues of research within a resiliency perspective. This process orientation to humor use also highlights the importance of both negative and positive emotion regulation in modulating coping and growth. This model is then used to comment on limitations and potential extensions of current resiliency perspectives on humor, including programs and exercises that attempt to train humor use in a facilitative manner.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Kuiper, N. A. (2012). Humor and Resiliency: Towards a Process Model of Coping and Growth. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 8(3), 475–491. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i3.464
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1145
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1337
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i3.464
  • Keyword(s)
    humor
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    resiliency
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    stress
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    coping
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    challenge
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    appraisals
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    distancing
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    growth
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Humor and Resiliency: Towards a Process Model of Coping and Growth
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    3
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    475–491
  • Volume
    8
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record