Why do you think I laugh? Gendered Perceptions of the Functions of Humor
Abstract
This study examines gendered differences in perception of humor functions in 311 male and female college students. Subjects ratings on three different test instruments were obtained: Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS), Uses of Humor Index (UBI), and Social aspects of Humorousness. Analysis of the MSHS indicated an interaction effect of Gender and Humor Dimension whereby men rated higher than women in Humor Production and women rated higher than men in Appreciation of Humorists. Results from the Same vs Self comparison of the Uses of Humor Index displayed a main effect for Condition and Humor Type as well as an interaction effect for Gender by Humor Type and for Condition by Humor Type. Analysis of the Same vs Opposite Sex comparison showed main effects for Gender, Target, and Humor Type and an interaction effect of Target by Humor Type. That is male targets were judged to use humor for negative uses more so than were female targets. The results from the social aspects instrument showed women to be more socially sensitive than men to the importance of sender and receiver characteristics and to humor offensiveness in influencing humor effectiveness.
Description
Program year: 1996/1997Digitized from print original stored in HDR
Citation
Quiros, Alexander E. (1997). Why do you think I laugh? Gendered Perceptions of the Functions of Humor. University Undergraduate Fellow. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /CAPSTONE -QuirosA _1997.