The Journal of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children

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Pieternel Dijkstra; Dick Barelds; Sieuwke Ronner; Arnolda Nauta
Abstract
The present study examined the extent to which a sample of 202 gifted individuals (members of Mensa)
engaged in four humor styles and the extent to which these humor styles were related to their well-being. These
results were compared to a comparative population sample (n = 265). Results showed that gifted individuals
most often used positive humor styles. There were no within sex differences in the use of humor styles between
the gifted sample and the comparative population sample. Men (in both samples), however, used aggressive
humor more than women. Self-enhancing humor (+) and self-defeating humor (-) were related most consistently
to well-being across sub-samples. For men, significant differences were found between the two samples with
regard to the relations between humor styles and well-being: Affiliative and self-enhancing humor related
positively and substantially to well-being in men from the comparative population sample, but not in men from
the gifted sample.
Keywords: Giftedness; humor styles; well-being.
Introduction
Lay theories on humor hold that having
a good sense of humor is healthy and enhances
one’s mental well-being. Research seems to
confirm this belief: several studies, for instance,
have shown that a sense of humor reduces the
impact of daily hassles and stress on well-being
(e.g., Abel, 2002; Kuiper & Martin, 1993;
Thorson, Powell, Sarmany-Schuller & Hampes,
1997), reduces feelings of anxiety (Yovetich,
Dale & Hudak, 1990), worry (Kelly, 2002) and
perceptions of pain and physical health
complaints (Kuiper & Nicholl, 2004).
The relation between well-being and
humor, however, is more complex than lay
theory suggest. Rather than being a single
dimension, humor is a multidimensional
phenomenon that consists of different aspects
(e.g., Thorson & Powell, 1993; Kirsh & Kuiper,
2003; Martin, Puhlik-Doris, Larsen, Gray & Weir,
2003). Martin and colleagues (2003) developed
a model that distinguishes four humor styles
relating to different uses or functions of humor
in everyday life. According to Martin and
colleagues (2003), two of these styles are
conducive to psychosocial well-being, while two
others are less benign and potentially
deleterious to psychosocial well-being. More
specifically, the two humor styles that are
assumed to be beneficial to well-being are
affiliative and self-enhancing humor.
Individuals who use affiliative humor say
funny things, tell jokes, and engage in
spontaneous witty banter to amuse others, to
facilitate relationships, and to reduce
interpersonal tensions. Affiliative humor is an
essentially non-hostile, tolerant use of humor
that is affirming of self and others and enhances
interpersonal cohesiveness and attraction. Selfenhancing
humor, on the other hand, reflects a
generally humorous outlook on life, a tendency
to be frequently amused by the incongruities of
life, and to maintain a humorous perspective
even in the face of stress or adversity (Kuiper et
al., 1993). In comparison to affiliative humor, the
use of self-enhancing humor involves a more
egosyntonic intrapsychic process.
The two potentially deleterious humor
styles are aggressive humor and self-defeating
humor. Aggressive humor refers to the use of
sarcasm, teasing, ridicule, and “putting-down”
of others. It also includes the use of humor to
manipulate others, by means of an implied
threat of ridicule. Finally, self-defeating humor
reflects attempts to amuse others by doing or
saying funny things at one’s own expense as a
means of ingratiating oneself or gaining
approval, allowing oneself to be the “butt” of
others’ humor, and laughing along with others
when being ridiculed or disparaged.
To assess these four humor styles,
Martin and colleagues (2003) developed the
Gifted and Talented International – 26(1), August, 2011; and 26(2), December, 2011. 89