
The Psychology of Humor
An Integrative Approach
Resources
Description
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
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