An observational study of humor use while resolving conflict in dating couples

Abstract

This research focused on whether affiliative and aggressive humor use was associated with relationship satisfaction and with greater perceived closeness, problem resolution, and emotional distress following a conflict discussion task. Ninety‐eight dating couples from a large Texas University participated in this research. Both partners independently completed questionnaires about their relationship perceptions, participated in a videotaped conflict resolution task, and then answered some additional questions. The results revealed that individuals whose partners used more affiliative and less aggressive humor during the discussion were more satisfied with their relationship and reported an increase in perceived closeness and better problem resolution following the discussion. These results highlight the importance of both positive and negative forms of humor in the regulation of close relationships.

Attachment orientations and reactivity to humor in a social support context

“…In the current study, we focused on Martin and colleagues' (2003) aggressive and affiliative types of humor for two reasons. First, as described above, aggressive and affiliative humor are theorized to be the most relational forms of humor because they tend to be directed at others rather than at the self, and both influence daily personal and relationship well-being (Campbell et al, 2008). Second, we wanted to extend the dyadic conflict paradigm used by Campbell et al (2008) to a social support context.…”

“…First, as described above, aggressive and affiliative humor are theorized to be the most relational forms of humor because they tend to be directed at others rather than at the self, and both influence daily personal and relationship well-being (Campbell et al, 2008). Second, we wanted to extend the dyadic conflict paradigm used by Campbell et al (2008) to a social support context. Campbell and his colleagues found that greater use of aggressive humor in a conflict discussion (rated by observers) was particularly deleterious, even more so than affiliative humor was beneficial.…”

“…For example, partners' greater use of humor is related to greater relationship satisfaction (e.g., Butzer & Kuiper, 2008;Carstensen, Gottman, & Levenson, 1995;Ziv & Gadish, 1989). During conflict resolution discussions, individuals whose partners are rated as displaying more affiliative humor-humor that enhances cohesiveness and reduces tension-report higher relationship satisfaction, more closeness, and experience better conflict resolution outcomes (Campbell et al, 2008). These findings suggest that some of the positive effects of humor that impact an individual's own personal outcomes, such as its link with better coping, could translate into a dyadic context in which humor is used to regulate a partner's distress to help them cope with a stressor more effectively.…”

“…Specifically, more satisfied partners reported using less negative humor in conflict interactions, whereas less satisfied couples reported using equal amounts of negative humor in both positive and conflictual interactions. In an excellent example of dyadic humor research, Campbell et al (2008) found that the expression of aggressive humor during couple conflict discussions-humor that is manipulative, offensive, or disparaging-predicted negative outcomes for both the expresser and the recipient of aggressive humor.…”

“…Humor is a desirable trait in potential mates (Sprecher & Regan, 2002), and it plays an important role in regulating established romantic relationships (Campbell, Martin, & Ward, 2008). For example, partners' greater use of humor is related to greater relationship satisfaction (e.g., Butzer & Kuiper, 2008;Carstensen, Gottman, & Levenson, 1995;Ziv & Gadish, 1989).…”