{"value"=>"<p> <span class=\"title\">Beneficial Aspects of Laughter and Smiling: Implications for Dance Therapy</span></p> <p>The literature regarding the positive aspects of laughter and smiling is explored in terms of physiology, psychology, the interactive effect(social elements), development and in relation to breath. Humor in therapy is also investigated. Dance therapy practice is examined in light of this theoretical material. It is then proposed that playfulness, suddenness, and unexpectedness will elicit smiling and laughter in dance therapy.</p> <p>A pilot study is conducted which examines the stimuli that seems to produce smiling and laughter in dance therapy sessions with psychiatric geriatric out-patient clients. The results indicate that there are a variety of stimuli which appear to elicit smiling and laughter. Playfulness, suddenness, and unexpectedness are found to produce smiling and laughter, as are communication, recognition, imagery, gestures, touch, movement themes, sounds, paradoxicalness, the therapist laughing/smiling and defensiveness. In addition, the study indicates that smiling tends to occur in response to more gentle stimuli, while laughter seems produced by more abrupt or active stimuli.</p>"}