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Voisey S, Heintz S. Do Dark Humour Users Have Dark Tendencies? Relationships between Dark Humour, the Dark Tetrad, and Online Trolling. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:493. [PMID: 38920825 PMCID: PMC11200950 DOI: 10.3390/bs14060493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Humour and antisocial behaviour on the internet are under-researched. Online spaces have opened a gateway for new ways to express unrestrained humour (e.g., dark humour) and ways to behave antisocially (e.g., online trolling). The tendencies and motivations of those engaging with such humour and behaviour are yet to be clearly established and understood. The present study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the interplay between dark humour, online trolling, and dark personality traits. Participants (N = 160) completed an online survey consisting of trait scales to assess the Dark Tetrad, dark humour, and online trolling, as well as two online trolling tasks (enjoyment and ability) and two dark humour meme tasks (enjoyment and ability). The results confirmed relationships between the Dark Tetrad and the dark humour trait, and several Dark Tetrad traits were related to the enjoyment of and ability to produce dark humour. Furthermore, dark humour and online trolling were closely related. The findings also revealed that online trolls did not enjoy being trolled but did enjoy trolling, and this ability to troll is underpinned by sadism. These findings illustrate the potential dark psychological motivations for using dark humour, demonstrate that online trolling is infused with darker forms of humour, and provide deeper insights into online trolls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonja Heintz
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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2
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Torres-Marín J, Navarro-Carrillo G, Bustos-Ortega M, Heintz S, Carretero-Dios H. Competitive Latent Structures for the Comic Style Markers: Developing a Psychometrically Sound Short Version Using Spanish and US American Samples. J Pers Assess 2024; 106:407-420. [PMID: 37943627 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2023.2274533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The Comic Style Markers (CSM) is a questionnaire that allows a fine-grained description of how people differ in the way they display humor in their daily lives. It includes 48 statements capturing eight interrelated, yet distinct comic styles: fun, irony, wit, sarcasm, benevolent humor, satire, nonsense humor, and cynicism. Despite the independent conceptual roots of these humorous domains, the analysis of the CSM scales' latent structure shows that their empirical distinction needs to be improved. Using the information derived from a competitive latent approach, including confirmatory factor analysis, bifactor analysis, and exploratory structural equation modeling, we proposed and validated a shorter 24-item version of the CSM in a large sample of 925 Spanish individuals (SP-CSM-24). This scale-refinement improved the psychometric differentiation of the eight comic styles without undermining the good internal consistency and the temporal stability of the CSM scores. Strong invariance was held for gender and age groups, and partial scalar invariance for countries also emerged using a sample of 318 U.S. American adults. Structural equation modeling also corroborated a convincing test-criterion validity for the SP-CSM-24, with dispositional expressions of benevolent humor (positively) and cynicism (negatively) outperforming other comic styles in accounting for individuals' well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Torres-Marín
- Department of Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mariela Bustos-Ortega
- Department of Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Sonja Heintz
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hugo Carretero-Dios
- Department of Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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3
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Bear JB, Miron-Spektor E. Understanding the role of gender in humor expression: Directions for future scholarship. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 55:101724. [PMID: 37984230 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Humor expression is a potent interpersonal and professional communication tool, conveying intelligence and competence. This review examines the role of gender in outcomes of humor expression, particularly in professional settings. Despite humor's association with masculinity and stereotypes that women are less funny than men, we highlight findings that suggest potentially nuanced benefits of humor for women, depending upon contextual moderators including humor type and status. However, we also highlight that extant findings are mixed, limited for methodological reasons, and in some cases, inconclusive, necessitating future scholarship. Given that humor can be a powerful tool, coupled with persistent gender gaps in leadership, we call for future research to better understand how, when, and why gender influences the effectiveness of humor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia B Bear
- College of Business, Stony Brook University, USA.
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Ng TK, Lee TH. Aggressive Humor and Social Connectedness: The Moderating Roles of Subjective Social Status and Gender. THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 158:257-272. [PMID: 38194686 DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2023.2291373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggressive humor has been conceived as a maladaptive humor style that jeopardizes social relationships. However, past studies have yielded inconsistent findings regarding the detrimental effects of aggressive humor on social relationships. This study attempts to advance the existing literature by examining the gender difference in the moderating role of subjective social status in the association between aggressive humor and social connectedness. Participants were 228 (53.1% female) adults aged from 18 to 53 years (M = 23.19, SD = 6.43). The hypothesized moderated moderation effect was significant, suggesting that gender significantly moderated the moderating effect of subjective social status on the association between aggressive humor and social connectedness. Subjective social status significantly moderated the association between aggressive humor and social connectedness for men but not for women. For men, aggressive humor was negatively associated with social connectedness when subjective social status was low or medium, but the association was not significant when subjective social status was high. For women, aggressive humor was not associated with social connectedness regardless of subjective social status. Implications of the findings are discussed.
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Evans JB. Gender and humor. Curr Opin Psychol 2023; 54:101719. [PMID: 37972525 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the literature on gender and humor, including differences in humor production and outcomes. Differences in the quantity and type of humor generally correspond with gender stereotypes, and these stereotypes significantly moderate the outcomes of humor use. Regarding humor production, consistent with cultural expectations, men tend to use all types of humor styles more than women, with a greater tendency towards aggressive humor. Regarding humor outcomes, rewards and punishments are not universally given to one gender. Rewards are more likely to be given to those who adhere to stereotypes or subvert expectations in a positive manner, whereas humor that violates expectations in a negative manner is punished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Evans
- University of British Columbia, 665 - 2053 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada.
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6
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Perceived related humor in the classroom, student-teacher relationship quality, and engagement: Individual differences in sense of humor among students. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13035. [PMID: 36699271 PMCID: PMC9868540 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explored the effect of humor on teacher-student relationship quality (TSRQ) and student engagement by uncovering the mediating role of TSRQ and the moderating role of individual differences (personal sense of humor). Data were collected using a cross-sectional time-lag approach with 2 phases; 367 students participated. The hypotheses were tested with a moderated mediation model. Perceived humor was positively related to TSRQ and student engagement. The results also confirmed the mediating role of TSRQ; a sense of humor positively moderated the relationship between perceived related humor and TSRQ, as well as perceived related humor and student engagement. The present study uncovers the relationship between humor and relationship quality in learning settings. Moreover, our study provides the first empirical data on the mediating effects of TSRQ on perceived related humor and student engagement. It also reveals the role of individual differences (sense of humor) in the proposed model.
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Skórka P, Grzywacz B, Moroń D, Lenda M. COVID-19 in Memes: The Adaptive Response of Societies to the Pandemic? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12969. [PMID: 36232263 PMCID: PMC9566158 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 expanded rapidly throughout the world, with enormous health, social, and economic consequences. Mental health is the most affected by extreme negative emotions and stress, but it has been an underestimated part of human life during the pandemic. We hypothesized that people may have responded to the pandemic spontaneously with increased interest in and creation of funny internet memes. Using Google and Google Trends, we revealed that the number of and interest in funny internet memes related to COVID-19 exploded during the spring 2020 lockdown. The interest in coronavirus memes was positively correlated with interest in mortality due to COVID-19 on a global scale, and positively associated with the real number of deaths and cases reported in different countries. We compared content of a random sample of 200 coronavirus memes with a random sample of 200 non-coronavirus memes found on the Internet. The sentiment analysis showed that coronavirus memes had a similar proportion of positive and negative words compared to non-coronavirus memes. However, an internet questionnaire revealed that coronavirus memes gained higher funniness scores than a random sample of non-coronavirus memes. Our results confirm that societies may have turned to humor to cope with the threat of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Skórka
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Beata Grzywacz
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-016 Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Moroń
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-016 Kraków, Poland
| | - Magdalena Lenda
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
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The effect of humor and perceived social interdependence on teamwork engagement in student groups. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03482-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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9
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Gheorghe A, Curșeu PL. Leading through affiliation: the effect of humor type and gender on likelihood of being perceived as a leader. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03383-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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Mendiburo-Seguel A, Alenda S, Ford TE, Olah AR, Navia PD, Argüello-Gutiérrez C. # funnypoliticians: How Do Political Figures Use Humor on Twitter? FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2022; 7:788742. [PMID: 35433924 PMCID: PMC9011155 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2022.788742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Social media has increased its popularity among politicians. If they wish to succeed in the political arena, politicians need to present themselves to citizens as attractive individuals through these platforms. This study examined how politicians present themselves using humor on Twitter. We analyzed tweets (n = 6,443) from 27 politicians to determine their use of different types of humor and its relationship with age, gender, or political position. We also present changes in humor use in relation to the publication of a political survey in which politicians who were part of this study were evaluated. Results showed politicians' use of humor is relatively low in frequency and primarily aggressive. Politicians who are male, younger, and in the opposition tend to use more aggressive humor. We discuss the results considering the role of aggressive humor in political messages. Based on the analyses of tweets and the publication of the survey, we propose as a hypothesis for future studies that politicians' use of humor on Twitter could be affected by the publication of these kinds of surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stéphanie Alenda
- Department of Sociology, Andres Bello University, Santiago, Chile
| | - Thomas E. Ford
- Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, United States
| | | | - Patricio D. Navia
- Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Political Science, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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The heart of humor: A network analysis of the temperamental basis of humor and humor personality traits. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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12
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Paine AL, Howe N, Gilmore V, Karajian G, DeHart G. “Goosebump man. That's funny!”: Humor with siblings and friends from early to middle childhood. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Heintz S, Ruch W, Lau C, Saklofske DH, McGhee P. Development and Validation of the Short Version of the Sense of Humor Scale (SHS-S). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. Humor training has become increasingly popular to enhance the “sense of humor” and well-being and to decrease depressive symptoms. Despite the wide applications of these training programs, the assessment of training efficacy has attracted less attention. The Sense of Humor Scale (SHS; McGhee, 1996 , 1999 ) recently was expanded to a long version (SHS-L) to enhance its internal consistency ( Ruch & Heintz, 2018 ). At the same time, there is also the need for a brief version of this scale. The purpose of the present study is to develop a short version (SHS-S) in both German- and English-speaking countries, test its psychometric properties (internal consistency, factorial, construct, and criterion validity), and assess measurement invariance across gender and the two languages. Using three samples (Sample 1: 570 English-speakers, Sample 2: 353 German-speakers, Sample 3: 94 other-reports), the 29-item SHS-S was developed and yielded promising internal consistency and validity scores for the six humor skill factors of enjoyment of humor, laughter, verbal humor, finding humor in everyday life, laughing at yourself, and humor under stress. Overall, the SHS-S is an internally consistent, valid, and economic tool for future research and group-based applications, while the SHS-L seems especially useful in individual applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Heintz
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Willibald Ruch
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chloe Lau
- Psychology Department, University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Humor and personality: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the comic styles markers and its relationships with the big five personality traits. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-01303-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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15
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Time to Renovate the Humor Styles Questionnaire? An Item Response Theory Analysis of the HSQ. Behav Sci (Basel) 2020; 10:bs10110173. [PMID: 33202813 PMCID: PMC7697079 DOI: 10.3390/bs10110173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) is one of the most popular self-report scales in humor research. The present research conducted a forward-looking psychometric analysis grounded in Rasch and item response theory models, which have not been applied to the HSQ thus far. Regarding strengths, the analyses found very good evidence for reliability and dimensionality and essentially zero gender-based differential item functioning, indicating no gender bias in the items. Regarding opportunities for future development, the analyses suggested that (1) the seven-point rating scale performs poorly relative to a five-point scale; (2) the affiliative subscale is far too easy to endorse and much easier than the other subscales; (3) the four subscales show problematic variation in their readability and proportion of reverse-scored items; and (4) a handful of items with poor discrimination and high local dependence are easy targets for scale revision. Taken together, the findings suggest that the HSQ, as it nears the two-decade mark, has many strengths but would benefit from light remodeling.
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Abstract
Abstract. The present study empirically tests a bimodal model of humor appreciation. In this model, individual differences in evaluating jokes and cartoons are attributed to their contents (sexual and aggressive) and structures (incongruity-resolution and nonsense). A total of 225 participants (64% women, Mage = 32.37 years) rated 50 jokes and cartoons on funniness, offensiveness, and boringness. They also completed a standard humor appreciation measure (the 3 WD). Using structural equation modeling, the bimodal model was found to be superior to alternative models. Regressions predicting the 3 WD categories supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the content and structure factors. In line with previous research, gender differences were found for the content factors, but not for the structure factors. Overall, this study is the first to show the viability of bimodal models of humor appreciation. They allow capturing the sources of individual differences in humor appreciation more adequately than previous models, thus providing a basis for future theories, research, and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Heintz
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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