Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/6386

Title: The use of humour in diversional therapy
Authors: Quirke, Jacqueline
Behavioural & Social Sciences in Health
Keywords: humour
diversional therapy
quality of life
Issue Date: 1994
Abstract: Humour is a natural phenomenon that every human being possesses. But humour is often not fully utilized and often taken for granted. It is only recently that there has been an upsurge in research in the area of humour that has began to highlight and prove the many benefits that come from its effective utilization. Although humour is a natural phenomenon, there are times in our lives when humour needs to be formally initiated such as in times of illness. Diversional Therapists because of the nature of their work, have ample opportunities to initiate humour. Humour is one of the many tools diversional therapists can use to increase the effectiveness of their activities programmes. This paper examines the definitions of humour and laughter, the beneficial functions of humour, why the use of humour is important in diversional therapy practice and the applications of humour in practice. The paper aims to give diversional therapists background information about humour, highlight the many benefits of humour and give some practical ideas of how humour can be formally incorporated into their diversional therapy programmes. It is envisaged that this paper will increase diversional therapists knowledge of humour, encourage the use of formal humour programmes with clients and encourage diversional therapists to research the various ways of using humour in their practice.
Description: This work was digitised and made available on open access by Yooroang Garang, the School of Indigenous Health Studies; the University of Sydney; and Sydney eScholarship. It may only be used for the purposes of research and study. Where possible, the School will try to notify the author of this work. If you have any inquiries or issues regarding this work being made available please contact the Sydney eScholarship Repository Coordinator - escholarship.info@sydney.edu.au
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/6386
Department/Unit/Centre: Behavioural & Social Sciences in Health
Appears in Collections:Honours and Postgraduate Coursework theses – Health Sciences

Files in This Item:

File Description SizeFormat
QUIRKE_J_1994_USE.pdf2.66 MBAdobe PDFView/Open

Items in Sydney eScholarship Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.