Extending the Study of Gelotophobia, Gelotophilia, and Katagelasticism in Romantic Life Toward Romantic Attachment

Abstract

Abstract. Gelotophobia (fear of being laughed at), gelotophilia (joy in being laughed at), and katagelasticism (joy in laughing at others) describe individual differences in how people deal with ridicule and being laughed at. We study their association with romantic attachment styles and romantic outcomes in adults. Study 1 ( N = 247) shows that gelotophobia goes along with higher expressions in attachment anxiety and avoidance. This study also provides support for the notion that gelotophobes demonstrate a lower likelihood of entering romantic relationships (odds ratio = 0.62/0.64 for past/current relationship status). Gelotophilia goes along with lower avoidance and katagelasticism exists independently from romantic attachment. Study 2 replicates the findings in 154 heterosexual romantic couples using Actor–Partner Interdependence Model analyses. However, katagelasticism was related to greater attachment anxiety in this sample of couples. A mini-meta analysis using data from both studies ( N = 555) clarified this association and showed that the joy in laughing at others yields a small positive association with attachment anxiety. Further, attachment styles mediate associations between the dispositions and relationship satisfaction in the couples. Overall, the dispositions are distinctively related with romantic attachment styles and our findings contribute to the understanding of the role of dealing with ridicule and laughter in romantic life.

Gelotophobia in romantic life: Replicating associations with attachment styles and their mediating role for relationship status

“…We computed bivariate correlations and a regression analysis (method = ENTER) to examine the association between the GELOPH-<15> and the ECR-R. In line with Brauer et al (2020), we predicted the dichotomous variable RE in two logistic regression models, namely, the baseline model (gelotophobia as single predictor) and the mediation model, to examine the mediating effects of attachment styles ( anxiety and avoidance as parallel mediators; see Online Supplemental Material). RE was coded as 0 = never been in a long-term, serious, and steady romantic relationship (excluding short-term dating and casual relationships) (63.7%) or 1 = been in a long-term, steady, and serious relationship at least once during lifetime (36.0%) (two participants did not indicate their RE 1 ).…”

“…There are two main findings on gelotophobia in romantic life: First, gelotophobia relates to a lower likelihood of entering romantic relationships cross-sectionally and over the life span (e.g., Brauer et al, 2020; Platt & Forabosco, 2012). An explanation that has been put forward is that gelotophobes misinterpret potential partners’ expressions of positive emotions (e.g., smiling and laughter on the first date) and then lose interest, because they feel ridiculed.…”

“…Brauer and Proyer (2018) studied 154 romantic couples and found that their relationships are characterized by assortative mating preferences (which potentially helps in initiating the relationship because both partners are less inclined to engage in smiling and laughter) and lower relationship satisfaction. To extend the knowledge on potential mechanisms behind the aforementioned findings, Brauer and colleagues (2020) studied romantic attachment styles in relation to gelotophobia.…”

“…For gelotophobia, Brauer and colleagues (2020) expected higher expressions of anxious and avoidant attachment, based on previous findings of adolescents’ attachment to their parents (e.g., Wu et al, 2015) and their localization in theoretically near variables (e.g., mistrusting partners). In line with expectations, gelotophobia was positively related to anxiety and avoidance ( r s = .43/.24; 18/5% shared variance beyond age and gender; N = 247).…”

“…We aim to replicate Brauer and colleagues’ (2020) findings to evaluate their robustness, as that study’s sample size and percentage of those who had never entered a relationship (11.3%) were comparatively small. Hence, we expected that gelotophobia would relate positively to attachment anxiety and avoidance, and would predict relationship experience (RE; i.e., having ever been in a romantic relationship throughout their life) negatively.…”