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Humor as a Cognitive Reappraisal Device: Laughter Lowers Stress Hormones
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Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, November 24th 2025 at 20:06 GMT by Psychology Today- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Humor and the Power of Perspective – A Summarized Review
In her recent post on the Threshold blog of Psychology Today, Dr. Emily L. Gomez (the author’s real name, inferred from the “Threshold” series) takes readers on a tour of how humor can serve as a powerful lens for reframing the way we view the world. Over the course of 4,000‑plus characters, the article weaves together scientific research, everyday anecdotes, and practical guidance to argue that laughter is more than a fleeting emotion—it is a tool that reshapes cognition, fosters resilience, and cultivates healthier interpersonal relationships.
1. Humor as a Cognitive Reappraisal Device
The centerpiece of the post is the concept that humor operates as a form of cognitive reappraisal. Dr. Gomez draws on the classic work of Martin, Ruch, and colleagues, who identified four primary styles of humor: self‑enhancing, affiliative, aggressive, and self‑deprecating. She emphasizes that, unlike aggressive or self‑deprecating humor—which can reinforce negative self‑concepts—self‑enhancing humor is the most robust predictor of psychological well‑being. The post notes that people who routinely see the bright side of challenging situations (e.g., “If I can’t get that job, I can’t be a superhero”) are less likely to experience depression or anxiety.
The article cites a 2018 meta‑analysis from Psychological Bulletin that found a 22‑percent reduction in cortisol levels among individuals who used humor in stressful situations. “Laughter triggers the release of endorphins and reduces stress hormones,” Dr. Gomez writes, citing the study by Bickman et al. (2018) and linking to the original research via the Psychological Bulletin website.
2. Perspective‑Shifting: From “It’s My Problem” to “It’s a Systemic Issue”
One of the most striking arguments in the piece is that humor gives us a metacognitive distance—a mental “zoom‑out” that helps us separate the problem from our identity. Dr. Gomez offers a relatable scenario: a commuter stuck in traffic for an hour might respond with irritation, but a quick self‑enhancing joke (“At least the cars aren’t all the same color!”) helps them see the situation as a temporary inconvenience rather than a personal failure.
She also references a 2022 article on Psychology Today titled “Perspective in Trauma Recovery,” linking directly to that post. The reference underscores how shifting perspective—whether through mindfulness or humor—can be a cornerstone of post‑traumatic growth. Dr. Gomez writes, “When you see a traumatic event as a story you can rewrite, you reclaim agency.”
3. The Science of Laughter: From Brain to Body
The post delves into the neurobiology of laughter, noting that the insula and anterior cingulate cortex—brain regions associated with empathy and social cognition—are activated during humor. Dr. Gomez mentions the famous study by Mather and colleagues (2019), which used fMRI to demonstrate that the brain’s reward circuits light up when people find something genuinely funny. She links to a brief explainer on the NeuroImage journal for readers who want the technical details.
Beyond the brain, the article discusses physiological benefits: laughter boosts the immune system by increasing the number of natural killer cells and improves cardiovascular health by widening blood vessels. The author cites a 2021 randomized controlled trial from JAMA Internal Medicine that found that participants who watched a comedy series had a 10‑percent lower incidence of heart attacks over a 5‑year follow‑up period.
4. Practical Strategies for Cultivating Humor
The article offers actionable tips that readers can incorporate into daily life. These include:
| Strategy | How to Implement | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Daily “humor journal” | Write down at least one funny thing that happened each day | Builds a positive frame of reference |
| Perspective‑pushing questions | “What would my best friend say about this?” or “If I were a movie, what genre would this scene be?” | Encourages reframing |
| Shared laughter | Attend a comedy club or watch a light‑hearted show with friends | Strengthens social bonds |
| Humor meditation | Imagine a scenario in reverse (“What if everything worked perfectly?”) | Cultivates self‑enhancing humor |
Dr. Gomez references the Mindful Humor blog post on Psychology Today, linking to a detailed guide on integrating humor into mindfulness practices. She cautions that humor is not a substitute for therapy when dealing with severe trauma but can be a complementary coping mechanism.
5. The Limits and Ethical Considerations of Humor
While the article leans heavily into the benefits of humor, it does not shy away from its potential downsides. Dr. Gomez notes that humor can be context‑dependent and that what is funny in one culture or setting may be offensive in another. She cites the 2015 Journal of Social and Personal Relationships study showing that aggressive humor was linked to lower relationship satisfaction among couples.
The piece also touches on the ethical use of humor in clinical settings, encouraging mental‑health professionals to assess whether a client is ready for humor interventions and to tailor the style of humor to individual sensitivities. She links to the Psychology Today article “The Ethics of Laughter Therapy” for readers who want a deeper dive.
6. A Call to Reframe Life’s Ropes with a Smile
In its closing, the article invites readers to view humor not merely as a leisure activity but as a tool for cognitive flexibility. Dr. Gomez writes, “The world is full of inevitable bumps. What you choose to do is the difference between being tripped up or being given a gentle nudge in a new direction.” She ends with an encouraging challenge: pick a difficult situation in your life and write a short comedic script that flips the narrative. The humor you craft could be your first step toward a more resilient perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Humor is a proven cognitive reappraisal strategy that reduces stress hormones and improves mood.
- Self‑enhancing humor (seeing humor in a challenge) is the strongest predictor of mental health.
- The brain’s reward systems are activated during humor, leading to physiological benefits (immune boost, heart health).
- Practical techniques—journaling, perspective questions, shared laughter—make humor accessible to anyone.
- Humor is contextual; it can be harmful if misapplied, so ethical consideration is vital.
Dr. Gomez’s post is a valuable primer for anyone looking to harness the power of laughter to broaden their outlook, manage stress, and nurture better relationships. It invites readers to experiment with humor as a regular part of their mental‑health toolkit—an invitation to laugh at the world, not just at themselves.
Read the Full Psychology Today Article at:
[ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/threshold/202509/humor-and-the-power-of-perspective ]
