Volume 29, Issue 1 -

This paper uses the lens of internet-based humor to examine how, amidst massive global flows of content, young Israelis articulate a sense of local-national affinity. We analyzed verbal and visual comic email forwards to trace: (a) the extent to which Israelis share local versus global content and (b) the means through which national affinity is conveyed. Results show that while Israelis’ humorous diet is mainly non-local, a pervasive use of the Hebrew vernacular plays an important role in creating local affinity. Our analysis yielded five discursive frames that mark locality in humor: presumed locality, dramatized locality, ex(im)ported localization, clandestine localization , and conspicuous localization . We conclude by offering a typology that locates these frames along three analytical axes: origin, explicitness and diversity. The combination of these frames and axes suggests a nuanced map of comic global-local interplays and offers a model for future comparative research.

Once any content is published it is subjected to public scrutiny, and tort actions may be brought by people allegedly offended by it. In most of the western world, there are no prior administrative restraints on freedom of speech, but courts can analyze complaints about various forms of expression and, in cases where the content is deemed abusive, award financial compensation to the victim. Naturally, humorous content is not excluded from this principle, and humorists can therefore face lawsuits. The present study researched all competent courts in Brazil where electronic records were available for the period 1997–2014 in order to present an overview of such cases, focusing on the identity of the claimants and the success of their lawsuits. Analysis of these data allowed some trends and inconsistencies in how Brazilian judges deal with cases involving humor to be identified. The first observation is that courts tend to favor humor that is closer to journalistic comment, i. e., humorous pieces relating to subjects of public interest. Humor, however, is not and cannot be limited to this particular type of humor. The second observation is that many judges punish humor that in their view seems to be “exaggerated,” disregarding the fact that exaggeration and unreasonableness are trademarks of humor. Thus, conservative and highly personal positions on the part of judges create an environment of uncertainty surrounding cases involving humor and freedom of speech. It is suggested that better attention to precedents set by Brazilian Higher Courts and a degree of common sense (including a sense of humor) on the part of the judiciary would help overcome judicial bias against humorists.

Two studies report the development and validation of the Humor At Work (HAW) questionnaire, developed specifically for the measurement of humor within workplace settings. Using an empirical approach to item selection, 150 items were administered over the internet to an international (largely Australian) sample of 339 individuals in a range of occupations. Exploratory factor analysis produced an initial questionnaire comprising eight scales. Study 2 administered the questionnaire, and several other self-report instruments, to a second sample of 377 working Australians. The eight confirmed scales were validated. Also using confirmatory factor analysis, the initial questionnaire was reduced to a final 13-item instrument comprising two scales: Pleasant Climate and Unpleasant Climate. These scales were independent of age, gender, education, and position. They were also independent of the factors of the Big Five, mood measures of positive and negative affect, social desirability, and altruism. Since Unpleasant Climate was positively correlated with the Climate of Fear measure of Ashkanasy and Nicholson (2003), and Pleasant Climate with the Affiliative and Self-Enhancing humor styles from Martin et al.’s (2003) Humor Styles Questionnaire , the HAW provides a useful measure of humor within the workplace environment.

This paper examined the reliability and validity of the State-Trait-Cheerfulness-Inventory (STCI) in Mainland China. The Chinese translation of the STCI-T<106i>, STCI-S<45i> and the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSWLS) were administered to 476 university students (313 females, 157 males, 6 missing; 20.40 ± 1.35 years of age). Results showed that the STCI-T<106> and the STCI-S<45> had high Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.60 to 0.92 in Mainland China, and the factorial structures of the instruments were supported. The STCI-T<60> and STCI-S<30> were developed utilizing three criteria for the selection of items. Cronbach alphas were satisfactory ranging from 0.67 to 0.94. The factor structure of the items appeared to be highly generalizable in Mainland China. Joint factor analyses of the state and trait items yielded three factors (cheerfulness, seriousness and bad mood) both as traits and states with the homologous concepts positively correlated. As expected, cheerfulness correlated negatively with bad mood, and cheerfulness correlated negatively with state seriousness. Meanwhile, seriousness correlated positively with bad mood. Moreover, life satisfaction was related positively with cheerfulness and negatively with bad mood, and could be predicted by high cheerfulness and low bad mood. Applications of the STCI-T<60> and STCI-S<30> in the Chinese context and future research are discussed.

This study aimed to investigate young children’s ability to appreciate and produce humor. Specifically the research questions were: 1. What aspects of a humorous visual stimulus do children of the ages 4–7 years appreciate and why? 2. What are the differences, if any, in producing a humorous story and a drawing? Are these related to creativity variables? 3. How are children’s appreciation and production of visual humor related to the Theory of the Absurd and the Empowerment theory (Loizou 2005, Infant humor: The theory of the absurd and the empowerment theory. International Journal of Early Years Education 13(1). 43–53)? The participants of this study were 102 children of the ages 3–7. During semi-structured interviews children were asked to observe and comment on the funniness of a picture, produce a funny story and then to make a funny drawing. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. The findings suggest that a. as a research tool, the use of a picture that represents a child acting “dangerously” can affect children’s reaction to humor b. in the production of a humorous drawing children use mainly the Incongruity theory whereas in their story production they use the Empowerment theory and c. the cognitive schemata used in explaining the humorous part in their story and drawing are different.

We (Heintz and Ruch 2015, An examination of the convergence between the conceptualization and the measurement of humor styles: A study of the construct validity of the Humor Styles Questionnaire. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 28. 611–633) pointed to a lack of convergence between the conceptualization of humor styles and how they are measured with the HSQ (i. e. the Humor Styles Questionnaire and recommended adjusting the model of the humor styles or alternatively the HSQ. The reply (Martin 2015, On the challenges of measuring humor styles: Response to Heintz and Ruch. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 28. 635–639) suggested that our study could be methodologically flawed, thereby limiting the conclusions that can be drawn. In the present reply, we discuss each of these criticisms and demonstrate that these are likely unfounded and do not influence our results and conclusions. Thus we still suggest that the gap between the conceptualization and the measurement of humor styles should be closed to improve the construct validity of the HSQ. This would allow interpreting the manifold findings with the HSQ and deriving hypotheses for future studies based on the humor style constructs.