Humorous responses to interpersonal complaints: effects of humor style and nonverbal expression.
Based on disposition theory (Zillmann & Cantor, 1996), this study assessed reactions to vignettes in which individuals humorously respond to complaints from their partners. Vignettes varied based upon the sex and affective expression (positive/negative) of the speaker, and style of humor used (affiliative, aggressive, self-enhancing, self-defeating). Although males were rated as funnier than females, speakers were generally rated as more funny and likeable, and evoked less counterarguing, when they had positive facial expressions even when using negative humor styles. Aggressive humor garnered the highest evaluations of funniness, likeability, and credibility, but also the most counterarguing.
California State University, Long Beach, Communication Studies, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USA. abippus@csulb.edu
Amy M
AM
Bippus
Norah E
NE
Dunbar
Shr-Jie
SJ
Liu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009633:Nonverbal Communication / Q000523:psychology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012928:Social Desirability; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult