Decoding Ability and Humor Production

Abstract

Scholars have suggested that being “in tune” with others may be an important aspect of successful humor creation; however, few studies have specifically investigated this possibility. Thus, this study examined the relationship between decoding ability and humor orientation. Decoding ability was conceptualized as involving three communication constructs: conversational sensitivity, nonverbal sensitivity, and receiver apprehension. Consistent with predictions, results revealed positive relationships between (1) humor orientation and conversational sensitivity and (2) humor orientation and nonverbal sensitivity. Also consistent with predictions, a negative relationship was found between humor orientation and receiver apprehension. Further analysis indicated the three communication variables together accounted for 24% of the variance in humor orientation; only conversational sensitivity and receiver apprehension, however, accounted for unique variance. Overall, these findings suggest humor production may be related to the ways in which individuals attend to their social environments.

Keywords:

• Humor Orientation
• Nonverbal Sensitivity
• Conversational Sensitivity
• Receiver Apprehension
• Decoding

The author would like to thank Drs. Matthew Martin and Laura Stafford for their helpful comments concerning this manuscript. An earlier version of this paper was presented as a top four paper in the Interpersonal and Small Group Division at the annual meeting of the Central States Communication Association (Cleveland, OH, 2004).

Notes

Note: Total R ² = .26, adjusted R ² = .24 (F(3, 172) = 19.75, p < .01.

∗p < .01.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andy J. Merolla

Andy J. Merolla (MA, West Virginia University, 2003) is a doctoral candidate in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.