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Laughter and communicative engagement in interaction
Dana Kovarsky1, Maura Curran, Nicole Zobel Nichols
1Department of Communicative Disorders, Universsity of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island , USA. dana.uri.edu
Seminars in Speech and Language
|January 16, 2009
Summary
Laughter in group interactions helps adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) maintain their public self-image and build social closeness. This study highlights laughter
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Group interactions are crucial for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Understanding engagement in social situations is key for TBI rehabilitation.
- Laughter's communicative role in TBI group settings requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the communicative functions of laughter in group interactions involving adults with TBI.
- To analyze how laughter indicates engagement and supports interpersonal involvement.
- To compare the distribution of laughter-eliciting behaviors (laughables) in TBI groups with previous findings.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of group interactions involving adults with TBI.
- Identification and categorization of laughter instances and laughables.
- Comparison of laughter and laughables distribution with data from aphasia therapy studies.
Main Results:
- Laughter communicatively supported the public self-image ("face") of individuals with TBI.
- Laughter fostered rapport and social closeness among participants.
- The distribution of laughables indicated sensitivity to interactional engagement dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Laughter serves significant communicative functions in TBI group interactions.
- Findings suggest laughter can enhance discourse equality and social connection.
- Implications for intervention models aimed at improving communication in TBI recovery.
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