A sample of 365 individuals completed three scales designed to assess various elements of the personal construct of sense of humor. Data were factor-analyzed to estimate what elements the scales measure. Inadequacies are identified, and additional elements of sense of humor are recommended for a new, multidimensional humor scale.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ByrneD. (1958) Drive level, response to humor, and the cartoon sequence effect. Psychological Reports, 4, 439–442.
2.
ChapmanA. J. (1976) Social aspects of humorous laughter. In ChapmanA. J.FooteH. C. (Eds.), Humor and laughter: theory, research and applications. New York: Wiley. Pp. 155–185.
3.
GavanskiI. (1986) Differential sensitivity of humor ratings and mirth responses to cognitive and affective components of the humor response. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 209–214.
4.
HayworthD. (1928) The social origin and function of laughter. Psychological Review, 35, 367–384.
5.
KlineL. W. (1907) The psychology of humor. American Journal of Psychology, 18, 421–441.
6.
LefcourtH. M.MartinR. A. (1986) Humor and life stress: antidote to adversity. New York: Springer-Verlag.
7.
MartinR. A.LefcourtH. M. (1983) Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressors and moods. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 1313–1324.
8.
MartinR. A.LefcourtH. M. (1984) Situational Humor Response Questionnaire: quantitative measure of sense of humor. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 145–155.
9.
NezuA. M.NezuC. M.BlissettS. E. (1988) Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressful events and psychological distress: a prospective analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 520–525.
10.
PorterfieldA. L.MayerF. S.DoughertyK. G.KredichK. E.KronbergM. M.MarseeK. M.OkazakiY. (1988) Private self-consciousness, canned laughter, and responses to humorous stimuli. Journal of Research in Personality, 22, 409–423.
11.
SvebakS. (1974a) Revised questionnaire on the sense of humor. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 15, 328–331.
12.
SvebakS. (1974b) A theory of sense of humor. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 15, 99–107.
13.
ThorsonJ. A. (1990) Is propensity to laugh equivalent to sense of humor?Psychological Reports, 66, 737–738.
14.
VaillantG. E. (1977) Adaptation to life. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.
15.
VaillantG. E.VaillantC. O. (1990) Natural history of male psychological health: XII. A 45-year study of predictors of successful aging at age 65. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 31–37.
