Introduction: Humor and Group Development
Having groups in the workplace is extremely important as well as the worker’s desire to have a fun work environment fulfilled. Proper use of humor in the workplace makes it possible for both needs to happen. Being able to understand the connection between different types of humor and groups leads to successful group development (Fine & Saucey, 2005, p.1) You will find information on the different ways to communicate humor and the who-what-when-where and why it affects people in the workplace. Successful humor influences groups through positive impact on group efficiency, capability and knowledge (Fine & Saucey, 2005, p.2). Based on the text from three articles, cited below successful humor can have a positive outcome on a variety of group processes and outcomes which contribute to overall group effectiveness.
As different types of humor are studied in the workplace so is the different types of groups. Methods of observation, interview, questionnaire and involvement in the workplace were used. One of the main contributors to how affective humor is for group development is how long the group has or will be working together. The results for group development varied based on if the group was temporary or permanent. One main focus being on “specific mechanisms that are used by group members to help foster a sense of ‘groupness’. That is group cohesion and identity, a sense of moving from I to WE” (Terrion & Ashforth, 2002, p.56). We focus on humor and how it connects people in the workplace, also focus on the most effective types of humor when building relationships in the workplace. How humor is used and regulated also have a large impact on group development. Humor helps contribute to c...
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...d more enjoyable place to work. Studies have shown that people who have fun in the workplace, work harder and are more efficient in his or her work (Terrion & Ashforth, 2002, p.58). It has helped others to understand why people joke and how groups are developed through communicating with humor. While there are some limitations where humor can negatively impact the workplace, these circumstances are rare (Terrion & Ashforth, 2002, p.83-84). Further research might concern itself with the important of humor at work, the relationship between the culture and workplace humor (Plester and Sayers, 2005). This is another research question that could lead to further research and studies. Workplace humor examination may identify suggestions for handling staff effectively to avoid conflict, lawsuits and to ensure a pleasant, productive work environment (Plester & Sayers, 2005).
The results show in these chart indicate that there is no cultural gender difference in expression humor or laughter. However, there is difference in what all culture believe humor is. This information is important because it explains why something are important to some culture and not to another. The authors agrees when they quote “in Japan, unlike in the United States, humor is not considered an important coping device. American media praise the use of humor [regardless of occupation] especially applied situation of stress and illness” (as cited in Ofra Nevo and Baruch Nevo 2001 pg. 153). In sum, all cultural have their own way (reason) to express laughter, but neither less, all culture express humor or laughter at the same rate. One might ask, how did different perspective of laughter occur? The answer is simple, our behavior were shaped by observing the word before can walk and talk.
Significance: from our perspective, the Lewin, Leppit, and White study is important because it created an awareness of the possible effect on a group of a leader’s style. In addition, it helped to make people more sensitive to the importance of the psychological atmosphere in the group. This atmosphere can influence not only group productivity, but also psychological variables such as tension, frustration, and conflict. Thus, the specific findings of the Lewin, Leppit, and White study were not as important as general awareness and sensitivity to the importance of ...
Gaddis et al. (2004) showed that while giving negative performance feedback, if leaders displayed positive emotions (happiness, optimism) then the perception of group members’ of leadership effectiveness and group performance were higher than when leaders showed negative emotions (anger, pessimism).George (1995) showed that positive mood of leader was positively related to team performance. George proposes several theoretical mechanisms
The spectrum of therapeutic techniques available within the health care continuum is very complex and varied. From traditional medicine, to holistic remedies, and anything in between, nurses have a rather large arsenal at their disposal when it comes to treating the patients that are under their care. Humor as an alternative therapy has long been understood as a proven means to aid in the recovery process. “With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health” (Smith & Segal, 2015). The purpose of this paper is to discuss situations in which humor would be a viable alternative therapy
My analysis is on the film The Goonies. While I view the movie and determine the various norms, behaviors, roles and interaction between group members, as well as individuals the examination within the realm of film can present many of the same components. Thus, our group selected this movie to analyze based on its formation of a cohesive problem-solving group full of unforgettable characters. The Goonies portray many different theories and aspects of small group communication.
Psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists study humor because it is a fundamental culture value, but they still can’t determine why certain things make some people laugh and others not. There are “humor quotient” tests that are designed to measure an individual’s sense of humor, but these tests are questionable. These tests aren’t accurate because almost all humor depends on cultural background knowledge and language skills. Not every person in the whole world, or even in one country share the same background knowledge and skills, therefore they cannot have the same type of humor. “The fact remains that individuals vary in their appreciation of humor” (Rappoport 9). Since humor varies from individual to individual, humor lies in the individual. How successful or funny a joke is depends on how the person receives the joke, humor cannot be measured by a statistical
Humor has become one of the most popular tools for stress relief. Positive effects of laughter include reduced muscle tension, controlled anxiety, the ability to handle unexpected events, and simply the joy of humor. It is important for managers to allow employees to have fun. We spend the majority of our lives at work and we need to enjoy the experience.
According to Toseland and Rivas (2005), group dynamics are “the forces that result from the interactions of group members” (p. 64). These forces refer to either the negative or positive influences towards meeting members’ socioemotional needs as well as goal attainment within a group (Toseland & Rivas, 2005), like within my class work group experience. Some of dynamics that continue to emerge and develop in my group is the effective interaction patterns and strong group cohesion, which has generated positive outcomes and group achievement thus far.
Laughter and humor are ongoing topics amongst philosophers to ponder and to determine what makes one laugh, what’s funny? Thomas Hobbes’ theory, though short, is one that is a central point of reference, to date, when analyzing what makes us laugh. According to Hobbes “the passion of laughter is nothing but sudden glory arising from sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others” (Hobbes 458). Hobbes believes that it’s one’s superior feelings over another person’s inferiorities that the superior finds humorous, which result in laughter. He also theorizes on Wit. Wit, by the comedic definition, is natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor. Hobbes also views wit as being natural and consisting of: “celerity of imagining – that is swift succession of one thought to another – and steady direction to some approved end. (Hobbes 458). Wit, or one’s quick wittedness, can be put back into Hobbes’ equation that suggests what we find funny is that which one can experience from an unsympathetic distance allowing him to laugh at another’s infirmities.
Never forget to laugh. "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it" (Cosby). Life is difficult for everyone. It is how people deal with these strives and struggle is what matters. Sometimes, the best way to get a break from the hardships of life is to simply laugh with friends and family. It’s a Balance process. Some people can be caught up in life’s problems and forget to laugh. Laughter is the mental medicine for life. Laughter supports the health of the body. Laughter can break up the quietness in a room. Laughter can change the room from black and white to a rainbow of colors. Laughter is a result of looking at something in a positive light. Is the glass half empty or half full? Whatever the circumstance, never underestimate the power of a good giggle. Never forget to laugh.
Affiliative humor that can impact family and friends to communicate and enhance their relationship in one to another. Some affiliative humor can also be like telling some humorous stories to lifted the positivity on family, friends, and the city community. By engaging with family and friends with affiliative humor, it can create some social interactions with each other more nicely with each other and form or strengthen their relationship better, but the affiliative humor wasn’t just about personal humorous stories. It can also be personal jokes. The humorous jokes with family and friends can help others to know more about themselves in pleasant ways. From expressing the affiliative humor, it can allow yourself to expand your feelings and abilities in unusual and extreme ways to related on what you think and interact with other people. As we discussed some ideas about the humor in enjoyment, I considered that I find laughing and amusing can help people get the sense in positive
Humor and laughter can benefit every person's mental health. According to Melinda Smith and Jeanne Segal, who are the authors in the Help Guide Organization, " Laughter makes us feel good. And the good feeling that we get when we laugh remains with us even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps us keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss." They are right, laughter make us feel good even when the laughter subsides. The reason why it still feels good even when the laughter is gone is because our minds keep replaying the scenario over and over again so that our mind will be able to relax, reduce the stress and the tension that is in our mind and our body. They also said that humor helps us overlook
However there is a plethora of data available that comes from anecdotes, and while this data is not as concrete as the quantitative data from studies it is still worth noting (4). One example of this comes from Howard Bennett who claimed that the patient he had seen, and had made laugh were less anxious and frustrated in the hospital situation, and they were more likely to listen to his advice (2). Now while this is not official due to the lack of a conclusive study there does seem to be support for ideas like this, such as from an anonymous article written in Nursing Standard in 2010. This article written by an anonymous pediatric nurse stated that when a clown came to visit children in the hospital their tolerance for pain went up while their average time in the hospital went down. The article also claimed that respiratory rate, temperature, and blood pressure were lowered in patients that received a visit from the clown, and thus it can be the author believes that humor therapy is beneficial .(7) An article written in the same magazine by George Winter agrees with this conclusion, but for different reasons. He believes that humor therapy is good due to the positive effect if can have on the patient to medical staff relationship. (9) This doesn’t seem to be a one-off conclusion though, because a journal called Pediatric Nursing published a piece by Rick Majzun in which it stated that normal hospitals could learn from childrens hospitals, because children hospitals tend to have more laughter going on inside them, and that this allows for patients to easily connect to their doctors. Furthermore the articles states that this method should be pursued due to the fact that it is cheap compared to the other kinds of more expensive methods to try and improve relations between the patient and staff(10). Humor
...and fun reduce stress, which can also increase effectiveness on the job. Teams that enjoy working together can accomplish great things for our companies and great teams achieve our goals again and again. Working in teams also teaches us associates to work together more effectively and frequently in new ways of doing things are discovered by team members working together to solve a problem.
Those who use humor to its best advantage teach others by example. Instead of getting angry when something goes wrong, we should try to look for the humor in the situation. It eases tensions and keeps things in perspective. Humor can energize us when a task has become tedious. Humor can make even the worst of situations tolerable.