The Laughter Remedy was created by Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D. Paul was a pioneer in humor research, laying the groundwork for the current interest in the health benefits of humor. After receiving his Ph.D. in developmental psychology in 1968, he spent 22 years conducting basic research on humor and laughter while teaching at the university level. He is internationally known for his own humor research, and has published over 50 scientific articles and 11 books on humor.
Laughter is a universal medicine.
The goal of the articles that will appear here, starting January of 2000, will be to demonstrate the many ways in which humor and laughter serve as a remedy for the stress we all experience daily in connection with our job, our relationships, our family finances, and even our health. In every area of our lives, some people are able to call upon their sense of humor to help soothe tensions, anxiety, or anger, and remain effective on their job on the tough days. They manage to sustain the hope and the courage they need to deal with difficult circumstances in their lives. Prisoners of war and hostages who have been held captive for years often point out that their sense of humor was a powerful tool in helping them get through one day at a time. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found a way to laugh during those difficult days.