The role of humor in depth psychology: A phenomenological study

In this phenomenological study I researched an experience within the psychotherapeutic process which can be called humorous. Five research participants, all depth psychologists, described in open-ended interviews the role of humor in their psychotherapeutic practice. The role of humor was found to have multiple effects, but the descriptions formed two broad structures or categories of humor. On the one hand, humor in psychotherapy was a joyful and healing experience, and on the other hand, humor was found to be shaming and harmful to the patient, depending on the uses of humor. The results of my research showed that humor in psychotherapy required awareness of the unpredictability of humor which either restricted or promoted the healing process. Humor was harmful insofar as it was an unhealthy defense, wounding to the self, and a harmful expression of sadism. Humor was helpful if it served a healthy defense, integrated rejected parts of self, was creative, facilitated a healthy expression of sadism, was insightful, or promoted intimacy and mutual sharing between the psychotherapist and patient. The effects of humor within psychotherapy were found by focusing on many types of humor, but the research highlighted the importance of being conscious of humor's intent, in order to mitigate its harmful effects, especially when it is initiated by the psychotherapist. Humor can be powerfully mocking or reflexively compassionate, as it unites opposition that allows expression of uninhibited and pleasurable feeling. In this research when humor was not destructive and was used ethically, it was from the creative unconscious, helping the person play with suffering, persecution, and even death.