The Psychology of Humor
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The Psychology of Humor

An Integrative Approach

1st Edition - October 2, 2006

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  • Author: Rod Martin
  • Hardcover ISBN: 9780123725646
  • eBook ISBN: 9780080465999

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Description

Research on humor is carried out in a number of areas in psychology, including the cognitive (What makes something funny?), developmental (when do we develop a sense of humor?), and social (how is humor used in social interactions?) Although there is enough interest in the area to have spawned several societies, the literature is dispersed in a number of primary journals, with little in the way of integration of the material into a book. Dr. Martin is one of the best known researchers in the area, and his research goes across subdisciplines in psychology to be of wide appeal. This is a singly authored monograph that provides in one source, a summary of information researchers might wish to know about research into the psychology of humor. The material is scholarly, but the presentation of the material is suitable for people unfamiliar with the subject-making The Psychology of Humor suitable for use for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses on the psychology of humor-which have not had a textbook source. 2007 AATH Book Award for Humor/Laughter Research category!

Key Features

  • Up-to-date coverage of research on humor and laughter in every area of psychology
  • Research findings are integrated into a coherent conceptual framework
  • Includes recent brain imaging studies, evolutionary models, and animal research
  • Draws on contributions from sociology, linguistics, neuroscience, and anthropology
  • Provides an overview of theories of humor and early research
  • Explores applications of humor in psychotherapy, education, and the workplace
  • Points out interesting topics for further research and promising research methodologies
  • Written in a scholarly yet easily accessible style
  • 2007 AATH Book Award for Humor/Laughter Research category

Readership

Researchers in the psychology of humor, including social, developmental, and cognitive psychologists

Table of Contents

  • Dedication

    FOREWORD

    PREFACE

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    Chapter 1: Introduction to the Psychology of Humor

    THE UNIVERSALITY OF HUMOR AND LAUGHTER

    WHAT IS HUMOR?

    THE MANY FORMS OF HUMOR

    PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF HUMOR

    A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMOR

    HUMOR AND PSYCHOLOGY

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 2: Theories and Early Research I: Psychoanalytic and Superiority Theories

    PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

    SUPERIORITY/DISPARAGEMENT THEORIES

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 3: Theories and Early Research II: Arousal, Incongruity, and Reversal Theories

    AROUSAL THEORIES

    INCONGRUITY THEORIES

    REVERSAL THEORY

    EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATIONS

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 4: The Cognitive Psychology of Humor

    HUMOR, INCONGRUITY, AND SCHEMAS

    LINGUISTIC APPROACHES TO HUMOR

    PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF SCHEMAS IN HUMOR

    COGNITIVE PROCESSES IN CONVERSATIONAL HUMOR: IRONY AND SARCASM

    EFFECTS OF HUMOR ON COGNITION

    COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES TO HUMOR

    HUMOR AS COGNITIVE PLAY

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 5: The Social Psychology of Humor

    HUMOR AS SOCIAL INTERACTION

    INTERPERSONAL FUNCTIONS OF HUMOR

    TEASING

    SOCIAL ASPECTS OF LAUGHTER

    HUMOR, SOCIAL PERCEPTION, AND INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION

    HUMOR AND PERSUASION

    HUMOR, ATTITUDES, AND PREJUDICE

    HUMOR AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS

    HUMOR AND GENDER

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 6: The Psychobiology of Humor and Laughter

    THE NATURE OF LAUGHTER

    AUTONOMIC AND VISCERAL CONCOMITANTS OF MIRTH

    LAUGHTER IN NONHUMAN ANIMALS

    PATHOLOGICAL LAUGHTER

    LAUGHTER AND THE BRAIN

    TICKLING AS A STIMULUS FOR LAUGHTER

    THE NEURAL BASIS OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES IN HUMOR

    EVOLUTIONARY THEORIES OF HUMOR AND LAUGHTER

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 7: Personality Approaches to the Sense of Humor

    WHAT IS SENSE OF HUMOR?

    INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN HUMOR APPRECIATION

    SELF-REPORT MEASURES OF SENSE OF HUMOR DIMENSIONS

    SENSE OF HUMOR AS AN ABILITY

    SENSE OF HUMOR AS STYLES OF HUMOROUS CONDUCT

    HOW MANY DIFFERENT SENSES OF HUMOR EXIST?

    PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF PROFESSIONAL HUMORISTS

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 8: The Developmental Psychology of Humor

    SMILING AND LAUGHTER IN INFANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

    HUMOR AND PLAY

    HUMOR AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

    HUMOR AS EMOTIONAL COPING

    INTERPERSONAL ASPECTS OF HUMOR IN CHILDREN

    INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN CHILDREN’S SENSE OF HUMOR

    HUMOR AND AGING

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 9: Humor and Mental Health

    HUMOR AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

    HUMOR, STRESS, AND COPING

    INTERPERSONAL ASPECTS OF HUMOR IN MENTAL HEALTH

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 10: Humor and Physical Health

    POPULAR BELIEFS ABOUT HUMOR AND HEALTH

    HOW MIGHT HUMOR AFFECT HEALTH?

    HUMOR AND IMMUNITY

    HUMOR AND PAIN

    HUMOR, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND HEART DISEASE

    HUMOR AND ILLNESS SYMPTOMS

    HUMOR AND LONGEVITY

    CONCLUSION

    Chapter 11: Applications of Humor in Psychotherapy, Education, and the Workplace

    HUMOR IN PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELING

    HUMOR IN EDUCATION

    HUMOR IN THE WORKPLACE

    GENERAL DISCUSSION

    References

    SUBJECT INDEX

    AUTHOR INDEX

Product details

  • No. of pages: 464
  • Language: English
  • Copyright: © Academic Press 2006
  • Published: October 2, 2006
  • Imprint: Academic Press
  • Hardcover ISBN: 9780123725646
  • eBook ISBN: 9780080465999

About the Author

Rod Martin

Dr. Rod Martin completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Waterloo, Canada, in 1984. He subsequently worked as a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario until his retirement in July, 2016, and is now a Professor Emeritus. While at Western, he served as Director of the Clinical Psychology Program for many years. A major focus of his research has been on the psychology of humor, particularly as it relates to psychological health and well-being. He has also conducted research on depression, Type A personality, and the effects of stress on immunity. He has authored more than 100 scholarly journal articles, books, and book chapters, including The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach. He has developed several tests for measuring aspects of the sense of humor, which have been translated into numerous languages and have been used by researchers around the world. He has presented his research at conferences in numerous countries, and his research has been featured in national and international newspaper and magazine articles and radio and television programs. He has served as President and as a board member of the International Society for Humor Studies and for many years was a member of the editorial board of Humor: International Journal of Humor Research. He and his wife have three adult children and eight grandchildren.

Affiliations and Expertise

Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada

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