This study examined the moderating impact of gender on the use of humor during employment interviews. Consistent with expectancy violation theory, I hypothesized that the use of humor by female candidates would cause more extreme evaluations than the use of humor by male candidates. In other words, when positive (affiliative) humor is used, females will be rated more positively than males, but when negative (aggressive) humor is used, females will be rated more negatively than males. I also hypothesized that the relationship between humor condition and evaluations would be partially mediated by state positive affect. I also posed a research question regarding how recall of what was said in the interview would relate to humor and evaluations. This experiment was a 2 (gender) x 3 (affiliative humor, aggressive humor, no humor) factorial design. Participants received brief interviewer training, interviewed a confederate playing another participant as the applicant, and then completed measures. Data from 221 undergraduate students were analyzed. Results demonstrate support of some hypotheses, including a main effect of humor condition on evaluations and partial mediation of state positive affect. Practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

In utilizing humorous intervention within the psychotherapeutic milieu, researchers have indicated that there is a relationship between an individual's sense of humor and stressful emotions, specifically anxiety. However, the nature of this relationship is uncertain. While some scientists propose a direct relationship between humor and anxiety, others hypothesize an inverse relationship. This study was designed to investigate this relationship, hypothesizing that the greater an individual's sense of humor, the more likely the individual would experience anxiety in social situations. The subjects were 143 male and female undergraduates. These volunteers were administered the Situational Humor Response Questionnaire (SHRQ) and the Interaction and Audience Anxiousness Scales (IAS and AAS). Pearson Product - Moment correlation coefficients were computed to analyze sense of humor (SHRQ scores) and social anxiety (IAS & AAS scores). The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between sense of humor and social anxiety, i.e., the greater the sense of humor, the lower the anxiety in social situations. Discussion of the results center on the alternative explanations of this relationship.

Thesis (M.A. in Theological Studies)--Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-182).

Obvious differences exist between the comedy styling of, for example, Jack Benny and Benny Hill. Terms like “highbrow” or “lowbrow” are often used, but there is no functional method yet that could feasibly be used to qualify all of the single jokes, let alone the broader work. Currently loose classification systems are used, but they don’t claim to be all encompassing. They are either too vague or too exclusive. This thesis selects several movies from the AFI list of the 100 funniest movies of alltime. In order to have a broad selection across time, it uses the highest-ranking movie from every decade beginning with the 50s. The movies are: Some Like it Hot (1959), Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), Annie Hall (1977), Tootsie (1982), and There’s Something About Mary (1998). Each movie is scrutinized, and each joke notated and analyzed. Once the analysis is complete on each individual joke from each individual film, the jokes are then sorted and organized. Patterns and characteristics are then sought and notated. / Department of Telecommunications