The social functions of humor on an open psychiatric ward

Conclusion

The functions served by humor on the psychiatric ward are not unlike those served by this activity in other social situations such as that of the bi-racial interaction.

It is apparent that humor does contribute to the ends of group and individual integration and adaptation. Group integration is facilitated by such mechanisms as the use of humor as negative sanction for violation of group norms, as the common expression of sentiment, as expressions of support or comradeship, and in the initiation of new members to the group. Group adaptation to the wider environment is fostered insofar as the hostility felt is expressed through humor rather than in a more disruptive manner, and the use of humor reflects staff values.

An individual's gratifications stem from such factors as the expressions of support that he receives and the collective expression of areas of concern. His adaptation to patient groups is facilitated by rites of acceptance and the mild ridicule of his personal foibles.

Less consideration has been given in this communication and other studies to the possibly dysfunctional consequences of humor as a pattern of social behavior such as fostering a pathological denial of reality, obfuscating relevant material, and too greatly reducing the anxiety that accompanies the consideration of mental illness.

The consideration of the functions (and dysfunctions) of humor might have practical implications for the therapist and administrator insofar as the observation of humorous occurrences sensitizes them to the areas of concern and structural predispositions toward strain of which the humor is a symptom. Similarly a consideration of the beneficent functions of humor and the judicious use of this technique, might facilitate therapeutic progress.