Volume 27, Issue 1

This article presents the results of a mixed method analysis of the use and perception of humor orientation (HO) on Facebook (FB) profiles ( N  = 100). Results of the lens model analysis suggest that a variety of profile cues, not just those directly related to humor, are used by FB users to demonstrate HO and by observers to perceive HO. Cues used by profile owners and perceived by strangers as indicative of a humorous disposition include: status updates that contained relational talk, humor in profile pictures, humor in quotes, the number of times FB friends “liked” status updates, and the number of unique friends who commented on status updates. Additionally, political talk in status updates was negatively related to users' HO and observers' impressions of users' HO. A qualitative thematic analysis of the FB profiles was then conducted. Those analyses suggested that cues diagnostic of users' HO thematically focused on daily life events, popculture references, and selfrelated anecdotes. Implications for the expression of and perception of humor on FB are discussed.

Research on gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) has come a long way since the first empirical studies published in 2008. Based on a review of the findings on gelotophobia, its structure, causes and consequences, updates to the model are introduced emphasizing the context of the fear and its dynamic nature. More precisely, external and internal factors are seen to moderate the effects of initial events on gelotophobia, and a spiral nature in the development of the fear is assumed. It is highlighted that gelotophobia needs to be studied in the context of related variables (such as timidity, shame-proneness and social anxiety), and research should focus on the time span in which this fear is most prevalent. The relevance of gelotophobia for humor theory, research and practice is highlighted and new areas of research are introduced. Among the latter the role of gelotophobia at work and in relation to life trajectories is discussed.

In order to investigate the interpersonal meaning of humor, the relations between humor styles and the Interpersonal Circumplex (IPC) were examined. One-hundred and twenty-seven participants reported their humor styles using the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ). These participants' interpersonal styles were also assessed using the eight octants of the IPC. By employing the structural summary method, results indicated that all humor styles produced high levels of interpersonal content, but slightly different interpersonal profiles. Affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles, which are often viewed as adaptive humor styles, were strongly associated with the gregarious-extraverted octant of the IPC, whereas aggressive and self-defeating humor styles, which are often viewed as maladaptive humor styles, were most highly associated with the assured-dominant and arrogant-calculating octants of the IPC.

Evidence is mixed on the question of the distinctiveness of embarrassment as a negative self-conscious emotion. Embarrassment is particularly likely to feature blushing, smiling and laughter, and to follow some minor and surprising social gaffe. Perhaps embarrassment can be distinguished from similar emotions by these observable expressive elements, rather than just in terms of contextual factors. Although slumped posture and averted gaze accompany all the negative self-conscious emotions, blushing may sometimes accompany embarrassment in order to accentuate one's submission disposition when the offense is minor and unusual. The frequent and distinctive smiles and laughter of embarrassment may reflect a truly humorous aspect to the embarrassing incident, and not just anxiety. As with other instances of humor, people are amused by embarrassing situations when the victim commits some unexpected, minor faux pas. These amusing, informative scenarios are a staple of conversation, and protect those present against committing a similar offense in the future. Thus, perhaps true embarrassment might be interpreted as a blend of two universal emotions, humor appreciation and shame, and defined operationally as exhibiting submission displays and smiling or laughter in response to having committed some unusual peccadillo.

Although much previous research has been conducted on remembering humorous materials, only a few studies have examined how visual humorous examples relevant to lecture content enhance the recall and/or recognition of the lecture details. In addition, previous studies have produced conflicting results and have methodological limitations. The present study investigated the interactions between humor and relevance in recall and recognition performance. One hundred sixty five subjects were given humorous or serious video examples which were relevant or irrelevant to lecture materials. Recognition performance, but not recall performance, was better when examples were humorous and relevant to the lecture materials. These results indicate that use of humorous relevant video examples is helpful for recognizing details supplemented by the examples.

The following article examines concrete examples of naturally occurring humor and laughter taken from simulated Japanese negotiations. Task-oriented negotiations were held in group settings, and participants were assigned conflicting interests to observe the occurrence of laughter in conflict situations. In-depth analyses of several negotiations are conducted in an attempt to reveal how humor and laughter are used to affect the negotiation process, and to shed light on how Japanese negotiators perceive and manage conflict situations. The current study reveals that Japanese conversations are governed by a concept known as kuuki , and various types of laughter can be explained through the appropriateness of an utterance in relation to the implicitly defined kuuki of a social situation.

School-age children use humor to form relationships with peers and adults, to celebrate life through expressions of joy and laughter, to play with words to develop cognitive and linguistic competence, and as a way of coping with the psychological, social, and physical constraints of growing up. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into school-age children's understanding of humor and explore ways the children use humor to cope with daily life stressors using focus group methodology. In this study, eleven focus groups were conducted with four to six participants in each group at a local elementary and middle school. As anticipated, the developmental level influenced the type of humor the child thought was funny ranging from recalled riddles of second graders to more complex jokes and humorous observations of fourth graders to elaborate jokes and spontaneous witticisms from the sixth graders. Gender also played a role, with tickling being a common theme among the girls and the minor misfortunes of others among the boys. The children used humor to help them cope with the daily life stressors associated with interpersonal relationships, school and after-school activities, and life at home.

The specificities of national humor are often mentioned in humor research, but seldom explained in depth. This article concerns two studies, which reveal that Danish humor (as used in professional settings) is judged by Danes and non-Danes alike as ironic, self-ironic, sarcastic, and direct, with no limits or taboos. These characteristics of Danish humor are analyzed here using two different theoretical frameworks: linguistics – where an explanation is found in certain type-specific features of the Danish language, namely the dialogical particles typical of the Nordic languages in general – and the historico-sociological approach proposed by Norbert Elias. According to Elias, the mentality of a people has been molded through an ongoing historical process of civilization. The civilizing process specific to Danish society has engendered a “campfire mentality”, leading up to the egalitarian, consensual welfare state. Work relationships in Denmark are based on a horizontal, flat structure with low power distance, a structure for which management researchers actually recommend the use of humor, irony and self-irony. Finally, the specificities of Danish humor are linked to a low degree of gelotophobia, the fear of being laughed at, among Danes.