Abstract
The autor discusses the sense of humor as a complicated form of mental activity in the context of the modern concept of brain laterality. Some investigations with right-hemisphere damaged persons, which confirm the important role of the right hemisphere for the sense of humor, are presented. According to the concept of two strategies of thinking related to the richt and left hemisphere, the sense of humor is described as the ability to grasp simultaneously meanings, objects and events in a holistic manner, thus accepting and producing polysemantic contexts. Sense of humor is also related to creativity. As a practical conclusion the author proposes to use humor in the process of psychotherapy in order to stimulate and to restore right hemisphere functions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 320-325 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Dynamische Psychiatrie |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 5-6 |
| State | Published - 1997 |