Humor styles, risk perceptions, and risky behavioral choices in college students

Arnie Cann; Adam T. Cann

doi:10.1515/humor-2013-0033

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Humor styles, risk perceptions, and risky behavioral choices in college students

Arnie Cann
Arnie Cann, a social psychologist, is a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Health Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. His two research interests involve understanding the role of humor as a social and individual difference variable, and examining posttraumatic growth processes – how some people find benefits and experience personal growth in the aftermath of highly stressful life events.
and Adam T. Cann
Adam Cann is currently pursuing a PhD in experimental psychology at Texas Tech University. His research interests include humor production and appreciation, affective experience, and impression management.

Published/Copyright: October 19, 2013

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From the journal Humor Volume 26 Issue 4

Abstract

Sense of humor has been identified as a possible factor that leads to riskier behavioral choices, which could, in turn, contribute to health problems and reduced longevity. In previous studies, sense of humor was viewed as a one-dimensional, positive personal quality: the potential impact of maladaptive styles of humor was not acknowledged. The current study assesses both adaptive and maladaptive humor styles and relates them to perceived risk, and to the performance of risky behavior. The results do not support the suggestion that a sense of humor – when considered as a cheerful, carefree, and optimistic orientation – is related to assessments of risk or risky choices. Although humor styles did predict risk perception and risky behavior, it was the maladaptive, aggressive humor style that was related to a lower perception of risk, and higher rates of predicted and actual risky behavior. Humor styles that reflect a positive mindset, and that were predictive of less chronic worry, were not consistently or reliably associated with perceiving situations as less risky or with higher rates of risky behavior. Further research is needed to clarify why an aggressive humor style was predictive of risk assessment and risky choices.

Keywords: humor styles; sense of humor; risk perception; risky behavior

About the authors

Arnie Cann

Arnie Cann, a social psychologist, is a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Health Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. His two research interests involve understanding the role of humor as a social and individual difference variable, and examining posttraumatic growth processes – how some people find benefits and experience personal growth in the aftermath of highly stressful life events.

Adam T. Cann

Adam Cann is currently pursuing a PhD in experimental psychology at Texas Tech University. His research interests include humor production and appreciation, affective experience, and impression management.

Published Online: 2013-10-19

Published in Print: 2013-10-25

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2013-0033

Keywords for this article

humor styles; sense of humor; risk perception; risky behavior