"Humor is used by bullies and perpetrators to increase the pain of betrayal by reinforcing stereotypes and existing power structures. And yet! Humor is a powerful tool of recovery, allowing us to challenge the narrative of the hegemony, compassionately connect to others, and take a new perspective on our pain. Humor plays a significant role in recovery from trauma, betrayal and loss."
"A study that surveyed 21,449 active-duty US Army Soldiers on risk and resilience showed that the use of humor (along with perceived unit cohesion and morale) uniquely contributed to lower PTSD symptoms after accounting for deployment stressors (Ward, et al., 2024). In a study surveying 179 firefighters at two time points, coping humor buffered the relationship between experiences of trauma, burnout and PTSD (Sliter, Kale, & Yuan, 2014)."
Humor can both harm and heal: perpetrators use humor to increase betrayal by reinforcing stereotypes and power imbalances, while healing humor challenges dominant narratives and fosters compassionate connection. Large-sample military data link humor use and unit cohesion with lower PTSD symptoms after deployment stressors, and firefighter data show coping humor buffers trauma-related burnout and PTSD. Benign humor—affiliative and self-enhancing—builds relationships and supports coping, whereas injurious humor expresses hostility and diminishes others. Vulnerability and laughter can coexist, promoting connection and healing. Taking power back after betrayal involves choosing how to carry the past forward.
Read at Psychology Today
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