Speaking Programs Humor's Role in Tragedy
					Humor's Role in Tragedy by Patt Schwab, Ph.D., CSP
					DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF HUMOR!
					In times of tragedy, laughter can heal. . . or hurt. It can bring people together. . . or split them into opposing factions.
			It facilitates memory in a crises, and when used correctly, it can be a critical survival tool. We are only just beginning to understand the role humor plays in times of tragedy and disaster-and how the level of recovery from a crises is reflected in the humor we use. Indeed, she or he who laughs. . . lasts! The purpose of this presentation is to acknowledge the special role humor can play in coping with and resolving a tragedy, and how it can be a useful tool for the emergency professional, care giver, or supportive friend to use in monitoring the situation. Dr. Schwab identifies the four stages of post traumatic humor: Morbid Humor Distractive Humor Power Humor Connective Humor She elaborates on the strengths of each and gives hints on how to use them to reach closure on the event. Note: This presentation emphatically does NOT say that joke telling is the way to resolve a tragedy. It looks at the use of situation appropriate humor as one of many indicators of emotional recovery. Since humor is a skill best developed long before being thrust into a tragedy, Dr. Schwab emphasizes several ways participants can increase the humor in their personal and professional lives. ________________________________________
			Meeting Planner Notes: This program is an excellent keynote or 90 minute workshop. As a KEYNOTE is can be tailored to include references to your conference program and/or suggestions to promote interactions between conferees. A section discussing a variety of ways to increase the humor in your life without becoming a clown can be used as a BREAKOUT SESSION after a keynote. This presentation is particularly useful for: Emergency Management Teams, EMTs, Hospital Emergency Staffs, Neighborhood Preparedness Groups, and patients or survivors of traumatic events or diseases. Download a printable version
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