Personality and humor appreciation: Evidence of an association between trait neuroticism and preferences for structural features of humor
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Graeme Galloway
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between trait Neuroticism and appreciation of humor structure (incongruity-resolution and nonsense humor). Higher levels of Neuroticism are associated with increased anxiety, and more anxious people are known to dislike novel situations more than less anxious individuals do. Given that nonsense humor is an instance of a novel state of affairs, it was predicted that increases in Neuroticism would be associated with a decreased preference (indicated by funniness ratings) for nonsense humor compared to humor in which the incongruity is fully resolved. Results obtained from a total of 107 participants (34 males and 73 females) supported that prediction. It is argued that these results, as well as those which indicate associations between humor structure preferences and various other personality constructs, can be accounted for by reference to an individual's trait and/or state arousal levels. Implications of the findings for theories of humor are examined.
© 2008 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, D-10785 Berlin
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- Emotional responses to ridicule and teasing: Should gelotophobes react differently?
- Personality and humor appreciation: Evidence of an association between trait neuroticism and preferences for structural features of humor
- Measuring responses to humor: How the testing context affects individuals' reaction to comedy
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- Book reviews
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Emotional responses to ridicule and teasing: Should gelotophobes react differently?
- Personality and humor appreciation: Evidence of an association between trait neuroticism and preferences for structural features of humor
- Measuring responses to humor: How the testing context affects individuals' reaction to comedy
- Remembering and anticipating stressors: Positive personality mediates the relationship with sense of humor
- Humor styles and personality-vulnerability to depression
- Relating humor preference to schizotypy and autism scores in a student sample
- Book reviews
