Clowning and Posive Instuons Alberto Dionigi1,2, Willibald Ruch3, Tracey Platt3, & Jennifer Hofmann3
[email protected] Los Angeles, June 28, 2013 1University of Macerata 2Federazione Nazionale 3University of Zurich Clown Dottori 1 Positive Institutions 2 ¨ Positive psychology has put forward the concept of “positive institutions” which are ones that support positive emotions and focus on character strengths (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000) ¨ In healthcare settings patients primarily come to reduce suffering (see also Harris & Thoresen, 2006), anxiety, stress, and other negative emotions that are more prevalent than positive ones ¨ How can institutions such healthcare settings become positive institutions? Positive interventions (including humor and clowning) Clowning as Humor Intervention 3 ¨ Clowning within health settings can be seen as the application of humor intervention within an institution (Linge, 2011; Ruch et al., 2010) ¨ Humor is not the only strength linked to clowning in health settings ¤ Clowning may activate strengths ¤ i.e. creativity, curiosity, and open mindedness are present in clowns and promoted in patients ¤ i.e. patients and relatives might experience hope and gratitude after clown interventions Clowning in Health Settings (Dionigi et al., 2012) 4 ¨ Professional clowns started working in hospitals in 1986 ¨ Karen Ridd (Robo the Clown), a child life specialist, founded the first Canadian therapeutic clown program at Winnipeg Children’s Hospital (Canada) ¨ Michael Christensen along with Jeff Gordon, two