Kornreich,
Jennifer (12/08) The relationships of humor to defensive maturity, aggression,
and interpersonal relatedness (Barry Ritzler, Ph.D.; Philip Wong, Ph.D.; Paul
Ramirez, Ph.D.)
The present study examined the
relationships between individuals' use of humor--specifically, their talent for
humor production and preference for constructive and destructive humor
styles--and their levels of defensive maturity, overt aggression, and
interpersonal relatedness. Sixty-eight adults without current major psychiatric
diagnoses ( M age=35.4 years), were videotaped telling a humorous personal
anecdote. All anecdotes were rated for funniness by professional comedians.
Participants also took an apperception test, and filled out self-reports. It
was predicted that participants rated as funnier would demonstrate
significantly higher levels of defensive maturity, lower levels of overt
aggression, and higher levels of interpersonal relatedness than would those
rated as less funny. It was also hypothesized that participants who reported a
relatively greater appreciation for constructive humor styles would demonstrate
significantly higher levels of defensive maturity, lower levels of overt
aggression, and higher levels of interpersonal relatedness than other
participants. Finally, it was predicted that a significant interactive effect
between participants' funniness and humor style preference would exist with
regard to defensive maturity, aggression, and interpersonal relatedness.
Results lent partial support to these hypotheses. As predicted, significant
correlations existed between humor style preference and defensive maturity, as
well as between humor style preference and interpersonal relatedness--although
not between humor style preference and aggression. No significant associations
were found between funniness and the dependent variables; moreover, no
significant interactive effect between funniness and humor style preference was
apparent. These mixed results are discussed in terms of the study's limitations
and future directions for research.
