Humorous Communication and Its Effectiveness in Coping With Interpersonal Transgressions

Abstract

Interpersonal transgressions can have a profoundly negative impact on individuals in relationships, as well as on the relationship itself. The transactional model of emotion and coping was used to investigate the intra- and interpersonal benefits of humor enactment on relationship satisfaction following an interpersonal transgression. One hundred twenty-seven participants (44.1% were men) completed measures assessing the relationship of humor orientation (HO), 2 indicators of coping effectiveness, relationship satisfaction, and degree of emotional hurt caused by the transgression. Although results do not provide full support for the mediation of coping effectiveness, there is support for the influence of trait HO on coping with interpersonal transgressions and subsequent relational satisfaction in that HO was positively related to general coping efficacy and perceived situation-specific humor coping effectiveness.

Keywords:

• Coping
• Humor Orientation
• Interpersonal Transgressions
• Relationship Satisfaction
• Transactional Theory Of Emotion and Coping

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara LaBelle

Sara LaBelle (MA, West Virginia University, 2011) is a PhD student in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Melanie Booth-Butterfield

Melanie Booth-Butterfield (PhD, University of Missouri, 1985) is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Keith Weber

Keith Weber (EdD, West Virginia University, 1998) is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.