The Psychology of Humor

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!

• 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

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

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