Evaluating the Interpersonal Nature of Humor: Mapping Humor Styles Onto the Interpersonal Circumplex
Date of Award
Summer 8-2012
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Randolph Arnau
Committee Chair Department
Psychology
Committee Member 2
Virgil Zeigler-Hill
Committee Member 2 Department
Psychology
Committee Member 3
Bradley Green
Committee Member 3 Department
Psychology
Committee Member 4
Christopher Barry
Committee Member 4 Department
Psychology
Abstract
The present study examined the interpersonal content of the four humor styles outlined in the Humor Styles Questionnaire in order to gather additional information about the interpersonal content of these humor styles. This was accomplished by projecting each of the humor styles onto the interpersonal circumplex. Each of the humor styles possessed significant interpersonal content and demonstrated interpersonal cohesion such that the maladaptive humor styles were located in the Cold-Hearted region and the adaptive humor styles were located in the adjacent octants of Gregarious- Extroverted and Warm-Agreeable. These findings suggest that the adaptive humor styles and maladaptive humor styles possess similar interpersonal content when conceptualized as directed at both self and others in interpersonal contexts. In addition, the study examined whether the Humor Styles Questionnaire fit the psychometric criteria for circumplex structure. Based on where the humor styles projected on the interpersonal circumplex, the Humor Styles Questionnaire does not have circumplex structure. Implications for the measurement of humor in the interpersonal context will be discussed.
Copyright
2012, Jessica Erin Vaughan
Recommended Citation
Vaughan, Jessica Erin, "Evaluating the Interpersonal Nature of Humor: Mapping Humor Styles Onto the Interpersonal Circumplex" (2012). Dissertations. 859.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/859