Chapter 6: Humor and the Mastery of Living

Summary This chapter suggests that parents, teachers and other caretakers who actively nurture a child's sense of humor may be equipping him or her with an important coping skill. A theoretical model of stress and coping is presented, and a discussion is made of the ways in which nonhostile, self-accepting, realistic humor, and laughter may represent a healthy, broad-spectrum coping strategy. A review of the extant research literature reveals that, although results have been generally promising, research in this area remains rather limited. Finally, some practical suggestions are given for encouraging the development of a healthy sense of humor in children.