Gender differences in humor appreciation revisited

Abstract

Mundorf et al. (1988) found a complex pattern of gender differences in humor appreciation. Specifically, males enjoyed sexual humor more than females did regardless of humor-victim gender, butfor hostile humor each gender enjoyed humor with an opposite-gender victim more than the other gender did. The present study was a conceptual replication of the Mundorf study with cartoons äs Stimuli and with an added independent variable: explicitness ofthe humor Stimuli. The results failed to replicate the pattern reported by Mundorf et al. Instead, females liked sexual humor with male victimsjust äs much äs males did but strongly disliked both types of humor when they had female victims. High explicitness was generally preferred over low explicitness except when females rated either sexual cartoons or cartoons with female victims or when sexual cartoons had male victims. A coherent account ofboth studies andofprevious research on this topic can be given in terms of the evolution of gender attitudes toward humor, with changes occurring primarily infernales äs a result ofthe continued influence of the women's movement.In their study of gender differences in humor appreciation, Mundorf et al. (1988) found a complex interaction involving participant gender, humor type (sexual versus hostile), and humor-victim gender. Males enjoyed sexual humor more than females did, regardless of victim gender. However, for hostile humor, each gender enjoyed humor with an oppositegender victim more than the other gender did. The researchers explained their results for sexual humor in terms of traditional gender roles regarding sexuality. They explained their results for hostile humor by a

Learning Online: A Comparison of Different Media Types

“…As reading anxiety and foreign language anxiety are related to interfering cognitions (Sellers 2000), we wanted to find out if less serious learning in a foreignlanguage online environment leads to learning that is effective and joyful at the same time. In this context it must be acknowledged that humor does not affect everyone similarly (Ruch and Forabosco 1996;Mundorf et al 1988;Herzog 1999;Ruch 2001). Differences between countries (Ruch and Forabosco 1996) and age brackets (Bariaud 1989) as well as gender differences (Mundorf et al 1988) were found in regard with the perception of certain types of humor.…”

“…Differences between countries (Ruch and Forabosco 1996) and age brackets (Bariaud 1989) as well as gender differences (Mundorf et al 1988) were found in regard with the perception of certain types of humor. However, a decade later, in a replication of the study on gender differences, the opposite of the original findings was found (Herzog 1999). Although there is evidence for interindividual and intraindividual differences in the perception of humor (Ruch 2001), humorous video clips seem to be useful in classroom settings (Jonas 2012).…”

“…However, there is evidence that the positive effects of certain media (Greenfield 2009;Kozma 1991), as well as humor depend on the individual (Ruch 2001;Ruch and Forabosco 1996;Herzog 1999;Mundorf et al 1988). Additionally, no medium is perfect for everyone and each occasion (Greenfield 2009).…”

“…As Ruch and Forabosco (1996) pointed out, there are also differences in the perceptions of humor between different countries. Moreover, one should keep in mind the age (Bariaud 1989) and gender (Mundorf et al 1988;Herzog 1999) of those who watch the humorous video. As gender was quite balanced in the current study, the both other points are limitations.…”

Conversational Agents and the Construction of Humorous Acts

“…Males enjoy sexual humor more than females, but there are also differences when looking at explicitness (high or low) and the victims of sexual jokes. In the research there are sometimes straightforward conflicting results (Herzog 1999).…”