Weinvestigatedthefearofbeinglaughedat(gelotophobia),thejoyinbeing laughed at (gelotophilia), and the joy in laughing at others (katagelasticism) in adoles-cent students (N = 324, 13-15 years). Gelotophobia was associated primarily with the victim and katagelasticism with the bully-role (selfand peer reports). Gelotophobia correlated with laughing at oneself if experiencing an embarrassing situation. Gelo-tophilia increased with the propensity to laugh if observing or experiencing embarrassment; katagelasticism increased with laughing if observing something embarrassing in another person. Imagining potentially embarrassing situations was associated with greater feelings of anxiety, shame, sadness, and embarrassment; gelotophilia with joy and cheerfulness. The study breaks the ground for a better understanding on how adolescent students deal with laughter and ridicule.
AbstractWe investigated the fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia), the joy in being laughed
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