Humor Judgments as a Function of Identification Classes: Canadian Vs. American

Summary

The present experiment tests Hobbes' superiority theory of humor in relation to identification classes (a replacement for the construct of reference group)—i.e., a vicarious superiority theory of humor is examined. Joke content concerns Canadian-American relations. Ss were selected so as to be either pro-Canadian Canadians or pro-American Americans. Consistent with prediction (p < .01) each of the two groups tended to find that permutation of jokes funnier in which its positive identification class was victorious and its negative the butt than was the opposite permutation in which the negative identification class was victorious and the positive the butt.