Abstract
Humor and laughter are integral parts of human life and communication – and so of
course they occur in medical contacts.
Humor is defined as a personality based cognitive emotional style of processing situations,
characterized by the ability to find positive aspects even in negative situations,
and the ability to communicate this point of view to others and to cheer them up. Humor
can support healing processes and coping with illness. Humor and jokes reduce anxiety
and stress (for patients and doctors). Humorous people have a more realistic, flexible
and less fearful behaviour. Humor helps to overcome negative experience. Humor can
help the patient to gain new views towards the disease and a healthy distance towards
occurring symptoms. Humor improves the relationship between patient and doctor. But
beware: jokes can also be used to express fears, aggression or shame. Therefore it
is worthwhile to listen carefully to what patients want to express. Humor reduces
the risk of burnout. In contact with patients, it is important to give their humor
room, to use it and respond to it, more than making jokes. Humor can be trained. Humor
training and creation of a humorous atmosphere in health care facilities should also
be supported by health insurance funds, institutions' sponsors and public authorities.
Humor ist gesund, Lachen ist die beste Medizin – sagt der Volksmund. Aber hat Humor
auch einen Platz in der Medizin? Dürfen wir überhaupt mit oder gar über Patienten
lachen – oder müssen wir das vielleicht sogar? Anscheinend bekommt den meisten Patienten
eine wohldosierte Prise Humor gut – und uns auch. Witze gibt es hier zwar nicht, aber
lohnende Informationen über den Humor: wann und wie er hilft, gerade schwierige Situationen
zu bewältigen.
Schlüsselwörter
Emotionale Verarbeitung - Resilienz - positive Psychologie - Bewältigungsstrategie
Key words
emotional processing - resilience - positive psychology - coping strategy
