Preliminary Validation of a Multidimensional Model of Wittiness

Abstract

Past research on wittiness has found that (a) self-ratings and peer ratings of wittiness are highly correlated, but neither type of rating is appreciably correlated with tneasured hutnor production, and {b) sociability is correlated with both types of wittitiess ratings hut not with hutnor productioti. An interpretation of these fitidings was provided by a tnultiditnensional model of wittiness that conceptualizes wittiness as a factorially cotnplex ditnension shaped by three cotnponent traits: hutnor tnotivation, humor cognition, and hutnor cotntnunication. We conducted three correlational studies to test the hypotheses, derived from the theory, that (a) wittiness ratings are influenced by hutnor tnotivation and hutnor cotntnunication, whereas hutnor production taps only hutnor cognition, and {b) sociability is positively correlated with hutnor motivation and humor communication but unrelated to humor cognition. Results were consistent across studies and generally confirmed the predictions.

Humor Creator and the Audience - A Multi-dimensional Model Supported by In-vivo Methodology

“…Although the leading conceptual model proposed by Feingold and Mazzella (1993) has often been explained and quoted (see, e.g., Galinkin, 2000;Martin, 1998), it has never been adequately substantiated. Most research conducted to confirm the theories about and approaches to humor, including the Feingold and Mazzella model, pertained to the humor creator or the humor listener, to humor evaluation, and to theme preferences, but did not measure the spontaneous humor so prevalent in everyday life (see Gruner, 1997 Given that humor is generally created in a natural setting or social situation, it is important to apply research about humor creation in a natural setting.…”

“…However, how humor is created, what is needed to create effective humor, and what reciprocal relationships exist between the humor creator and the humor receiver, are questions that have been examined predominantly through laboratory studies using in vitro methodology (e.g., Feingold & Mazzella, 1993;Turner, 1980). In this controlled experimental methodology, only reliable and valid tools are used to analyze specific variables.…”

“…Humor is defined as the ability to perceive the relationship between incongruous things in an ingeniously humorous manner and to convey it as a message to others. Humor appreciation, also called humor detection, is defined as "getting the joke" by attempting to comprehend disparities between the punch line and prior experience, which is the cognitive dimension of humor (Brownell, Hiram, Dee, Powelson & Gardner, 1983), and as "enjoying the joke", which is the emotional dimension of humor (Gardner, Ling, Flamm & Silverman, 1975) and has been related to the receiver, namely the listener, who reacts with laughter or a smile (Feingold & Mazzella, 1993). In fact, appreciating or evaluating humor is not necessarily related to humor creation.…”

“…In addition to these theories humor research has taken other approaches, including the motivational ( Based on these divergent approaches, Feingold and Mazzella (1993) presented a multidimensional conceptual model of wittiness for humor creation, comprising three dimensions: humor motivation, humor cognition, and humor communication. Humor motivation is a situation or event that leads one to a certain behavior.…”

“…Humor motivation is a situation or event that leads one to a certain behavior. People may create humor for several reasons, such as seeking laughs and amusement from others (Cline et al, 2003); reacting to a given situation experienced by the humor creator, such as coping with pain (Zweyer et al, 2004); responding to sarcasm or belittlement, or as a means of coping with stressful situations (Feingold & Mazzella, 1993;Lefcourt, 2001; Martin, 1998); internalizing social norms (Meyers, 2000); or giving indirect criticism (Jorgensen, 1996;Zajdman, 1995). During debates, humor creators sometimes want to change the atmosphere, in order to better communicate or to improve the mood of others (Bippus, 2003;Bippus & Dunbar, 2011).…”