Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President, Character.org By:
Over 20 years ago I had the honor to co-teach with Marty Seligman and Chris Peterson the first-ever course in Positive Psychology (at the University of Pennsylvania). Chris was on sabbatical at the time (he was a full professor at the University of Michigan) and in addition to our course Chris was beginning to research how to classify and measure what we were starting to call “character strengths.”
Chris and I spent hours together that semester discussing which character strengths (or virtues) we should research. Some were prima facie obvious, such as integrity, kindness, fairness, forgiveness, humility, gratitude, and courage.
But one night, at a local pub, Chris asked me whether humor should be on the list. Impulsively, I replied, absolutely not! I told Chris that none of the moral philosophers I studied in graduate school — Aristotle, Plato or the Stoics – ever emphasized humor as a quality or virtue essential to a flourishing life.
Chris disagreed. Of course, if you knew Chris, even for a few minutes, you quickly became aware of his dry sense of humor. So Chris and I spent the rest of the evening debating, telling bad jokes, and yes, having a few pints.
I lost the argument. Humor became one of the 24 “VIA” character strengths. Incredibly, over 15 million people since 2004 have taken the free self-assessment. It’s hard for me to imagine the field of positive psychology without the VIA survey.
Several years later I was at the United States Air Force Academy teaching a course on the nature of leadership. A cadet wrote a research paper on why humor is an essential leadership quality. Her logic was flawless. She argued that no one wants to be led by a person who never laughs or can’t use humor as a way to create positive energy.
Suddenly, I had an epiphany: Chris was right. Humor is a character strength!
A few days later Chris and I talked on the phone. He appreciated my turnaround. [He also promised never to tell anyone about my steeled resistance.]
Regrettably, Chris passed away the following year (in 2012, at the age of 62). I miss my friend, especially his playfulness and dry humor. Yet his legacy endures.
Thank you for sharing and what an interesting bit of history about character strengths! Am thankful humour is on the list and hope we’re all using it and growing in it to share positive energy at this time!
Arthur, Agreed that the proper use of humor is a character strength. Humor could be considered an aspect of the virtue of joyfulness. Humor brings joy to joy-ee and the joy-er. (A weak attempt at humor.) 😊 When we have our virtues in balance, we experience joy. When virtues are out of balance, joy suffers.
The point in humor is to make sure it is not offensive to others, i.e., imbalancing other virtues, such as respect, tolerance, kindness, spirituality and tact. Humor can sometimes reduce situations of tension, but it can also fall flat. That’s the challenge of humor – finding something that is universally funny. Like all virtues, it is in the practice. Self-deprecating humor, such as your chicken-suit photo, is usually a safe bet and expresses humility. . . . But have you offended any of our fine-feathered friends? 😊
Agree with full heart, and I’d add that I can imagine gratitude or thankfulness without humor. And yes, humor as a virtue cannot be offensive to others, at least not intentionally. We cannot, i think, ever be sure what another will or will not take offense at.
Don Rickles and his humor might well be a case in point. Here’s an interview with two of Don’s dear friends — Bob Saget and John Stamos — who suggest that Don Rickles’ humor was always meant with the best of intentions, never meant to offend. And it’s a thin line.