Band 38, Heft 3

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are often associated with humorlessness. The present study aimed to separate potential differences in humor appreciation from text comprehension difficulties. Twenty-three adults with ASD and 23 neurotypical adults (age: 18–72 years) read four types of texts: jokes, non-funny revision texts (requiring an incongruity resolution), straightforward and incoherent control texts. Funniness ratings, comprehension accuracy and punchline reading times were recorded. There were no overall differences between the groups, and both rated jokes funnier than other texts. The joke facilitation effect (faster reading times for jokes) was even more pronounced for autistic participants. More heterogenous responses in the autistic group and interactions with age underscore the importance of interindividual differences. The study provides several indicators for intact humor comprehension and appreciation in ASD. We hypothesize that the complexity and unpredictability of funny situations in everyday life, rather than humor per se, causes difficulties in ASD.

Humor convergence, or responding to humor by adding a similar jocular response, is presumed to lead to positive affect and affiliation among interlocutors. L2 learners particularly could benefit from being able to join in on this co-construction of humor, as this would help them build bonds with target language speakers. However, research is lacking on whether convergence is common and effective for all kinds of humor, including self-deprecation and failed humor. This study examined the level at which 23 L2 French learners in a Dutch university converged to 18 fictitious messages which included various kinds of humor, including affiliative absurd irony, third-person sarcasm, jocular flattery, self-deprecation, offensive and incomprehensible humor. The study also analyzed L1 French speakers’ effectiveness ratings of the learners’ responses to the various humor types. Finally, it examined the correlation between humor convergence and effectiveness ratings to determine whether convergence is actually considered effective for all kinds of humor. The findings suggested that the type of humor had a large effect on the level of humor convergence, but more convergent responses were considered more effective for all kinds of humor, except offensive humor. Implications for researchers and educators are discussed.

We attempted a psychometric validation of a Polish-language version of the Comic Style Markers questionnaire (CSM). A sample of 1785 adult Polish participants completed a Polish translation of the CSM (CSM-PL), the HSQ, and the IPIP-BFM-20. A self-other correlation analysis was carried out on 116 Polish university students. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of several models have shown a six-factor, 33-item solution to have good model fit, with the lighter comic styles (benevolent humor, fun, nonsense, and wit) retained and the darker comic styles merging into cynicism and a new factor of mocking humor . The CSM-PL achieved satisfactory reliability and measurement invariance. We also present preliminary evidence suggesting validity in terms of correlations with age and gender, humor styles, Big Five personality traits, and self-other correlations. Nevertheless, the CSM-PL should be employed in further studies to confirm its validity.

Women with endometriosis frequently report worse psychological distress, pain, and quality of life than healthy women. However, not all women with endometriosis fare poorly, suggesting that coping resources may moderate the relation of endometriosis with adjustment. Thus, we examined the relation of adaptive and maladaptive humor styles with mental and physical health outcomes among women with endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-eight US women completed online surveys February-September 2021 during times when COVID positivity rates remained high (>5 %) and social distancing measures were in effect. Self-enhancing humor was uniquely associated with greater purpose in life and positive affect, and with less negative affect and endometriosis stress. Self-defeating humor was uniquely associated with greater negative affect, depressive symptoms, and endometriosis pain, and with marginally worse healthy diet adherence. Positive reappraisal indirectly mediated the relations of self-enhancing humor with healthy diet and exercise adherence, and social support indirectly mediated the relation of self-enhancing humor with fewer depressive symptoms. Self-enhancing humor was linked with better, and self-defeating humor with worse, adjustment to endometriosis. Positive reappraisal and social support emerged as possible mediators of these associations. Further exploration of behavioral pathways linking humor styles with health outcomes is needed.

The current study presents the first validation of the German version of the Humor Efficacy and Identity Short Scales (HEISS-G), which captures self-conceptions about one’s own humor abilities and humor identity. Consistent with the original HEISS (Silvia et al. 2021. Funny selves: Development of the humor efficacy and identity Short scales (HEISS). Personality and Individual Differences 182. 111093), both scales demonstrated unidimensionality, good score reliability, good item discrimination and an appropriate range of item difficulties ( n  = 528). Further, the predictive value of different humor styles and humor production on psychological well-being has been investigated in a structural equation model (SEM), including the HEISS-G as measurement of self-beliefs about humor production for further validation ( n  = 200). Preliminary correlation analyses showed that humor efficacy, humor identity and self-enhancing humor production were positively and significantly associated with psychological well-being. In the SEM, humor styles rather than humor production correlated with psychological well-being. These results may be explained by potential content-related overlaps among the humor production and humor styles. Overall, the results suggest that self-enhancing or lighthearted forms of humor are associated with increased psychological well-being.

This article contributes to the scholarship on Holocaust-humor films by analyzing Jojo Rabbit (2019), highlighting its originality in satirizing Nazi Germany through the perspective of a Hitler Youth member. Confronting the representational “etiquette” of the Holocaust associated with its ‘sacralized uniqueness,’ scholars from the 1980s and 1990s defended the relevance of satirical humor in fostering meaningful remembrance, particularly in the film Life is Beautiful (1997). Considering the resonances of Jojo Rabbit with the far-right resurgence in the twenty-first century, those arguments of satire’s relevance are updated, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovative aesthetics with ethical implications. Based on this balance, this article examines the satirical representation of history in Jojo Rabbit, aiming to unfold its comedic mechanisms blended with anachronic popular culture, and define the central function of humor in the film. In conclusion, the child’s perspective is an efficient humorous resource that benefits from a ludic satirical style to convey historical criticism and timeless messages.