Brutality of assault in political cartoons affecting humor appreciation

Social consequences of disparagement humor: a prejudiced norm theory

In this article we introduce a "prejudiced norm theory" that specifies the social-psychological processes by which exposure to disparagement humor uniquely affects tolerance of discrimination against members of groups targeted by the humor. Our theory posits that a norm of tolerance of discrimination implied by disparagement humor functions as a source of self-regulation for people high in prejudice. For people high in prejudice, this norm regulates the effect of exposure to disparagement humor on tolerance of subsequently encountered discriminatory events. Our theory contributes to the literature on prejudice and discrimination by delineating the processes by which disparagement humor creates a normative climate of tolerance of discrimination, as well as variables that accentuate and attenuate its effects.

Health locus of control, humor, and reduction in aggression

Humor appreciation has been posited to provide a socially acceptable method to release hostility and experience a positive mood state. Research into this relationship has produced equivocal results. The present study examined the proposition that previous inconsistencies were based on no assessment of Health Locus of Control. Differentiated as internal and external scorers on the health scale, 144 college women experienced either an induction of arousal of aggression or a neutral nonarousing procedure. They were presented three stimulus conditions, neutral humor, aggressive humor, or nonhumorous material, and then assessed for mood state. Scores on the Health Locus of Control were significant showing effective use of humor to reduce anger. Internal scorers on the health scale registered, when angered, most enjoyment of aggressive humor. Health Locus of Control appears a significant factor in college women's capacity to use humor for mood regulation.

Locus of control and the aggression inhibiting effects of aggressive humor appreciation

Empirical investigation into the theoretical connection between humor appreciation and aggression has provided a continued series of equivocal results. This experiment examined the proposition that previous inconsistencies were due to the lack of concern for individual locus of control. Female subjects, differentiated as internals and externals, received either an aggression arousal induction procedure or a neutral nonarousal procedure. Subjects were presented three stimulus situations: neutral humor, aggressive humor, or nonhumorous material, and assessed for mood state. Locus of control was found to be a significant variable in the effectiveness of aggressive humor to reduce aggressive mood. Internals were able to reduce aggressive mood through appreciation of aggressive humor and demonstrated preference for this humor type. Importance of internals' cognitive style interacting with humor content was found significant in relationship between humor and aggressive reduction.

Effects of Sex and Type of Humor on Humor Appreciation

Examined humor appreciation of cartoons as a function of sex of subject and type of humor. Four broad types of humor were presented: sexual-exploitative, sexual-nonexploitative, nonsexual-hostile, and nonsexual-nonhostile. Sexual-nonexploitative humor was rated as funnier than the other three types but nonsexual-nonhostile humor was given a more positive overall rating than the other types. Relative to males, females gave greater ratings of hostility to the cartoons and rated them less positively. Correlational analyses further suggested that females were not as affected as males by variations in sexuality, exploitation, and hostility. For males, greater ratings of sexuality were associated with greater funniness ratings while the reverse was true for greater ratings of hostility. Possible interpretations of these data were discussed.