Young adults with intellectual disability, 15 with IQs of 55 to 75 and 15 with IQs of 40 to 54, rated 12 cartoon riddles of six levels of difficulty. Mirth and comprehension were also scored. Analyses indicated that participants considered the jokes funny but there was a strong tendency to respond to the visual aspects of the jokes rather than to the auditory aspects.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BernsteinD. K. (1986) The development of humor: implications for assessment and intervention.Topics in Language Disorders, 6(4), 65–71.
2.
DrewC. J., LoganD. R., and HardmanM. L. (1988). Mental retardation: a life cycle approach. (4th ed.) Columbus, OH: Merrill.
3.
HaigR. (1988). The anatomy of humor: biopsychosocial and therapeutic perspectives.Springfield, IL: Thomas.
4.
HoreA. P., and TryonW. W. (1989) Study of the similar structure hypothesis with mentally retarded adults and nonretarded children of comparable mental age.American Journal of Mental Retardation, 94, 182–188.
5.
PinderhughesE., and ZiglerE. (1985) Cognitive and motivational determinants of children's humor responses.Journal of Research in Personality, 19, 185–196.
6.
SchultzT. (1972) The role of incongruity and resolution in children's appreciation of cartoon humor.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 13, 456–477.