Threat of Shock and Anxiety in the Perception of Humor 1

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of threat of shock on the perception of humor by Ss of different levels of measured anxiety. 60 females were selected from 231 introductory psychology students on the basis of their scores on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale. 20 Ss were in each of the categories of high, medium, and low anxiety scores. Half of the Ss in each category were administered "threat of shock," while the other half were given "no threat of shock" treatment. Each S rated 10 jokes as to how funny they were on a 5-point scale. Threat-of-shock treatment significantly affected perception of humor, but there were no significant differences in response as a function of levels of anxiety. Threat of shock served as an effective emotional disturbance in the sense that, as an aversive stimulus, it suppressed the perception of humor.