The Psychology of Humor
1st Edition
An Integrative Approach
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
Details
- No. of pages:
- 464
- Language:
- English
- Copyright:
- © Academic Press 2006
- Published:
- 2nd October 2006
- Imprint:
- Academic Press
- Hardcover ISBN:
- 9780123725646
- Paperback ISBN:
- 9781493300969
- 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