ABSTRACT
A paradox is defined as “A statement or proposition seemingly self-contradictory or absurd, and yet explicable as expressing a truth.” At the same time, humor is defined as “the faculty of perceiving and enjoying what is ludicrous or amusing.” With that in mind, humor is essentially nonlinear in its nature! More specifically, humor is based entirely on irony, paradoxical meanings, absurdity, incongruity, etc.—in other words, the very principles of paradox that have been described in the previous chapters in this text. In addition, humor is a universal human experience that is cross-cultural, and can facilitate attachment relationships with other people. It is also a tool for peeling back the absurdity of things by distorting or making absurd observations about them. Doing so often reveals a hidden truth that can provoke a person to reflect on the subject matter. As a result, it is a special case of paradoxical intervention. In this chapter, how and why humor can work in effecting therapeutic change are explored. Its similarity to paradoxical interventions, particularly in the response that clients have to each, is further evidence of this.
