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Article: Jokes as a projective technique: The humor of psychiatric patients
- Article from:
- American Journal of Psychotherapy
- Article date:
- July 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Journal of Psychotherapy Summer 1996. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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This paper describes the use of jokes told by psychiatric patients as a projective technique. The typical themes and styles of the jokes that were obtained are described, including the relationship to the personalities and life situations of the joke tellers, and the implications for diagnosis and therapy. Examples are presented from various diagnostic groups, drawn primarily from the clinical experiences of the author.
INTRODUCTION
Projective testing has been constantly expanding in its scope and clinical applications. In addition to its diagnostic uses, developments have included the feedback of test results to patients in order to provide a rich psychoeducational experience,1 a form of ...