Arminen2007

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Arminen2007
BibType ARTICLE
Key Arminen2007
Author(s) Ilkka Arminen, Mia Halonen
Title Laughing with and at patients-the roles of laughter in confrontations in addiction therapy
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Laughter, Therapy, Addiction
Publisher
Year 2007
Language
City
Month
Journal The Qualitative Report
Volume 12
Number 3
Pages 483–512
URL Link
DOI
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
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Series
Howpublished
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Abstract

In Minnesota treatment, the therapists aim at breaking clients' denial to encourage them to accept their addiction. However, the confrontation is risky since, instead of making the patient ready for a change, it may strengthen resistance against the diagnosis of addiction and the treatment recommendations. We will explore the role of laughter in confrontational practices. The study is based on conversation analysis of group therapy sessions in an inpatient addiction treatment clinic in Finland (7.5 hours of data altogether). The laughter prevails in three different kinds of practice: laughing off the troubles, strengthening the confrontation by laughing at the patient, and ameliorating the confrontation. Laughter is a flexible device for preventing or resolving the possible risks of confrontation.

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