The role of humor in transforming stressful life events
pp. 653-662
in: Thomas W. Miller (ed), Handbook of stressful transitions across the lifespan, Berlin, Springer, 2010Abstract
There often seems to be only one constant in life – change! And change comes in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Life changes can be so major that they overwhelm us, or so minor as to be hardly noticeable. They can be very subtle or dramatic, happy or sad, welcomed or feared. Change can be a cause for celebration or sorrow. Change can provide new opportunities to reach for our greatest potential, or change can diminish our capacities and cause us to redefine ourselves. Change sometimes brings us face to face with the prospect of death – our own or a loved one's. Change can take many forms: