From Patch Adams to Gallows Humor being able to laugh has been found time and time again to provide medical benefits. Humor is found to not only help a person’s mental health but also in the physical healing process. Humor can help normalize our ability to discuss medical issues while modeling discussions we should be having with partners, providers, and family members. However, there are important questions to consider. Are there times when jokes should not be made? Who should be making the jokes? Does it matter who the joke is about? This presentation offers both the mirth and melancholy of humor and health. Utilizing a mixture of examples and research this presentation offers a review of how humor is used within the medical profession and as a coping tool for those affected by various health issues including mental and physical challenges and dives deeply into the media’s means of educating and destigmatizing health topics across various platforms. Illuminating the benefits, challenges, and dangers of using humor this book draws particular attention to who is using humor and the information being presented. Dr. Malynnda Johnson is an associate professor in the department of communication teaching mostly in the areas of health communication and media studies. She completed her PhD in 2012 at the University of WI - Milwaukee. She is also the associate program director for the genetic counseling program. Teaching the interviewing and counseling class as well as cross cultural communication. For 15 years most of Dr. Johnson’s research centered on how media shapes our perceptions and understanding of health topics such as HIV and STIs. She has written two books on media representations of health topics including one on HIV and the other on neurodiversity and mental health. Currently, Dr. Johnson shifted slightly to examining the role humor plays in our health. When she is not writing, teaching, or serving my community she is often found with her two dogs hiking the amazing woods of Indiana or camping in them. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
10 июл 2024
