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County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service
Laughology: Physiological Benefits of Laughter,Humour & Personal Growth
Laughology and
Honorary Lecturer University of Chester
Stephanie Davies,Creative Director
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Copyright of Laughology© All rights reserved 2008
Stephanie DaviesCognitive laughter and humour consultant
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A model for living
A flexible approach that brings about fast,
positive change in individuals and
organisations - empowering them to adapt to
an ever-changing world.
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What is Laughter?
What is Humour?
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An audible expression or
appearance of merriment or
amusement.
Encyclopaedia Online
The outward energy to humour
Particular cognitive experiences
to provoke laughter and provide
amusement, a State of mind
Encyclopaedia Online
A system for information processing.
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Research shows that stress hormones—that can
constrict blood vessels and suppress immune
activity--decrease in the body as a result of laughter. Maryland School of Medicine news March 11, 1999
Laughter helps blood vessels function betterMary land school of medicine
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Humour and laughter is learned, a person can develop
a better sense of humour; that would affect one's own
nature in a remarkable way and could be more
Conducive to good health.
Dr Michael Miller UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Humour Brain Training
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Write down as many things/words/situations that
make you laugh?
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Neotenous
Neoteny is the study of juvenile traits within
human beings whether this be physical or
mental.
As children we are at our best
developmental stage, we are playful, full of
imagination and flexible
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Laughter Effects
• Laughter provides enjoyable exercise and provides abdominal exercise William Fry M.D. a Stanford University Medical School
• Increases levels of natural killer (NK) cells and antibodies to boost the immune system Dr Lee Berk & Stanley Tan of the Loma Linda University Medical Centre
• Reduces blood pressure and heart rate if practiced regularly University of Maryland medical Centre Dr Miller
• Reduces stress hormones University of Maryland medical Centre Dr Miller
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The Humour being
The Brain and Humor
Prefrontal Cortex holds our ability for humour. This area of our brain is
used for flexible thinking, to untangle an abstract idea, and understand it's
amusing message. Society for Neuroscience
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Laughology humour toolkit
• Fake it
• Language
• imagination
• Pattern breaking
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SMILEPerformance of Self
Small
Measurable
Improvements
Lasting
Empowering
Prisoners of War kept their morale up by telling jokes to each other in Morse code through their prison walls.
Gerald Coffee, author of Beyond Survival,
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Appropriate humour
1. Humour needs to be inclusive.2. Humour can not be deliberately offensive
or hurtful 3. Humour should not be used against
someone.4. Humour should be mirthful and with
positive intent.
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•Fire Services•Police Services•Cardiac Patient care programme•Knowsley CVD public health engagement programme•Breathe Easy Support Network•Royal Liverpool Hospital well-being at work •Alder hey children's Hospital•Isle of Man Community Nurses•Mencap IOM•Healthy Schools
