Jeffrey H. Goldstein

Toys, play, and child development.

1. Introduction 2. Imaginative play and adaptive development 3. Play, toys, and language 4. Educational toys, creative toys 5. The war play debate: current issues 6. War toys and aggressive play scenes: balanced aggression 7. Sex differences in toy play and use of videogames 8. Does play prepare the future? 9. Play as healing.

Measurement of occupational humorous coping.

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a Questionnaire of Occupational Humorous Coping (QOHC), partly based on the model of emotion regulation by Gross (Current Directions in Psychological Science 10: 214–219, 2001). Items intended to measure antecedent-focused, response-focused, and affiliative and aggressive-manipulative humorous coping methods were generated. Preliminary studies led to improvements in the questionnaire and to the removal of items controlling for acquiescence bias. Principal axis factoring with oblique rotation on a large sample yielded four stable and reliable factors: an antecedent-focused, a response-focused, an aggressive-manipulative and an affiliative instrumental humorous coping factor. Convergent and discriminant validity with existing humorous coping and other sense of humor measures (the CHS, the MSHS and the HSQ) was satisfactory, but not always in the expected direction. Antecedent-focused and generic humorous coping (CHS) were weakly associated with job-related positive affect and well-being; for the self-enhancing humor style these associations were moderate. Aggressive-manipulative, response-focused and generic humorous coping (CHS) showed weak associations with negative job-related affect. The findings are explained in terms of assessment issues and possible moderating effects of humorous coping.

Toys and Communication: An Introduction

This chapter is an overview of Toys and Communication and introduces some of the themes raised in the book’s additional 15 chapters. The first section borrows from Sutton-Smith’s (Ambiguity of play‚ Harvard University Press‚ Cambridge MA‚ 1997) ‘rhetorics of play’ to position toys in the global media market, in institutions including school and family, and in relation to other forms of play, such as games and videogames. Toys and their meanings in play can be seen as aspects of communication and the transmission of culture. Giving and receiving toys reflects and imparts cultural practices and beliefs. Some forms of play, such as parent–child play or block play, are directly related to language and communication skills. Amanda Gummer reviews theory and research on toys, play and language development. Particular toys are homologous with particular types of speech and action. Miniature toy versions of everyday objects stimulate related play themes and the scaffolding of language skills. Musical toys appear to promote spatial reasoning, memory, math, and language. Miniature cooking sets develop a child’s sense of comfort, home, and set the stage for lifelong food preferences. Four anthropological chapters show the interplay between culture, toy-making, and play in rural India, Morocco, 1930s pre-war Germany, and Greece during the German occupation. Three chapters describe ways in which play influences toy design and design influences play.

Introduction: Festschrift for Paul McGhee – Humor Across the Lifespan, Theory, Measurement, and Applications

The special issue of Humor touches on the many areas in which Paul McGhee was a pioneer. This Festschrift begins with an intellectual biography of Paul McGhee (by Goldstein & Ruch), with reminiscences by Peter Derks, followed by issues that emerge out of his work. Contributions are from academics and practitioners from psychiatry, nursing, education, and psychotherapy highlighting research and practice that has profited from Paul’s influence. These include the role of humor in children’s development and education (Doris Bergen; Joyce Saltman), measurement and humor research (Willibald Ruch and Sonja Heintz; Rene Proyer; Jennifer Hofmann) and humor training (Willibald Ruch, Jennifer Hofmann, Sandra Rusch and Heidi Schultz; Ilona Papousek). Paul’s mark has also been found in nursing (Karyn Buxman) and psychiatry and neurology (Frank A. Rodden). Paul comments on the contributions to the Festschrift and adds his latest thoughts about humor research. This is followed by his article on humor among non-human primates, a topic that has long engaged him.

Paul McGhee and humor research

Abstract Humor research has developed along a trajectory, and branched out in many directions, that were foreseen and stimulated by Paul McGhee. From his initial interest in children’s humor and cognitive development as a graduate student at Ohio State University to his work applying humor in myriad settings, McGhee has broadened our understanding of humor and expanded its horizons. As early as the 1970s, Paul expressed interest in the neuropsychology of humor and laughter and in the evolution of humor in nonhuman primates. The development and validation of the Sense of Humor Scale is an integral part of the 7 Humor Habits Program used effectively to train humor skills. McGhee played an early role in advocating humor and laughter as a learnable tool in the promotion of health and well-being, and in the training of health-care personnel. His work has been recognized through various Lifetime Achievements awards and other honors.