brodzinsky barnet aiello sex roles volume 7 issue 5 1981 david m. brodzinsky; karen barnet; john r....

7/28/2019 Brodzinsky Barnet Aiello Sex Roles Volume 7 Issue 5 1981 David M. Brodzinsky; Karen Barnet; John R. Aiello -- Sex

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Se x Role s , Vol . 7 , No . 5 , 1981

Sex o f Sub jec t and G end er Ident i ty as Fac torsin H u m o r A p p r e c ia t io nD a v i d M . B r o d z i n s k y , a K a r e n B a r n e t , a n d J o h n R . A i e l l oDouglass C ollege, Ru tge rs University

A pp r e c i a t i on o f c a r t oon h um or was e x am i ne d in m a l e and f e m a l e c olle ge s tu -de n t s who had be e n c a t egor i ze d i n t o one o f o ur ge nde r i de n t i t y g r oups {m asc u-line, fe m i n i ne , andr ogy nous , und i f f e r e n t i a te d ) on t he basis o f B e m ' s Se x R o l eI nv e n t o r y . R e s u l t s i nd i c a te d t ha t m a l es p r e fe r r e d se x ua l hu m or m o r e t han ab-surd hum or , wh i l e f ema les sh ow ed the reverse pa t t e rn . Fur therm ore , genderi de n t i t y was r e l a te d t o hum or appr e c ia t ion o n l y f o r fe m a l e s. Wh ile f e m i n i nef e m a l e s p r e f e rr e d abs ur d hum or m or e t han se x ua l hum or , m as c u li ne and an-drogynous f emales were more apprec ia t i ve o f s exual humor . F inal l y , mascul ine ,f emin ine , an d und i f f e ren t ia ted males, as we l l as mascul ine and andro gyno usf e m a l e s , s h ow e d g r e a te r appr ec i a ti on o f s e x ua l hu m o r wh i c h por t r ay e d f e m a le s ,a s opp os e d t o m a le s, a s t he s e x ob j e c t o r b r u n t o f t he j ok e .In the past two decades psychologis ts have shown an increasing in teres t in thes tudy o f humor , par t i cu la r ly in the a rea o f sex d i f fe rences . Research has ind i -ca ted tha t males and females react d i f fe ren t ly to hum or . Males o f t en show anindependence be tween the i r over t, pub l ic expression o f hum or apprec ia t ion(mirth) and thei r pr ivate , evaluat ive response to humor s t imul i ( funninessrat ings) , whereas for females there exis ts a greater in terdependence betweenthese behav iora l measures (Cupch ik & Leven tha l , 1974 ; Leven tha l & Mace ,1970). Fur ther , males have been fou nd to apprec ia te sexual (Groch , 1974 ;Malpass & Fi tzp atr ick , 1959 ; Te rry & Ertel , 1974) and aggressive hu m or (Groch ,1974; Lan dis & R oss , 1933) m ore than females , whi le the reverse pat ter n hasbeen no ted fo r absurd hu m or (G roch , 1974 ; Land is & Ross , 1933 ; Ter ry & Er te l ,1974). Males, in c om parison to fem ales , a lso have been repo rted to p roduce

All correspondence should be sent to D. M. Brodzinsky, Department of Psychology,Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.561

0360 -002 5/81 /050 0-05 6150 3.00 /0 1981 Plenum PuDlishing C o r p o r a t i o n


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56 2 Brodzinsky, Barnet, and Aie llos ign i f ican t ly fun nie r cap t io ns to s t imu l i con ta in ing sexua l and aggress ive them es ,b u t n o t n e u t r a l t h e m e s ( B r o d z i n s k y & R u b i e n , 1 9 7 6 ) .

T o d a t e , m o s t o f th e r e s e ar c h in t h e a r e a o f h u m o r h a s d e a l t w i t h t h e s e xd i f fe r e n c e s o n l y i n t e r m s o f b i o l o g ic a l s e x . An a l t e r n a t iv e a p p r o a c h t o s e x d if -f e r ences , one tha t i s ga in ing cons id e rab le a ccep tanc e in the psycho log ica l l i t e ra -tu r e a t l a rge , i s ind iv idua ls ' psycholog ica l s ex or gender iden t i ty , tha t i s , howi n d iv i d u a ls p e r c e i v e th e m s e l v e s i n t e r m s o f t r a d i t io n a l m a l e a n d f e m a l e ro l e s .

Wh ile t r a d i t i o n a l c o n c e p t i o n s o f m a s c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y h a v e b e e nv i e we d a s e n d p o i n t s a l o n g a s in gle c o n t i n u u m , w i t h a n i n d i v i d u a l b e i n g s e x t y p e da s e i t h e r m a s c u l i n e o r f e m i n i n e , m o r e r e c e n t r e s e a r c h h a s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h i s i sno t n ecessa r i ly the case . Bem (197 4 , 1977 ) , in pa r t i cu la r , has s t rong ly c r i t ic izeds u c h a n a r r o w v i e w o f g e n d e r i d e n t i t y , a n d h a s d e v e l o p e d a s c a l e f o r i n d e p e n -d e n t l y m e a s u r i n g m a s c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y w i t h i n a n in d i v id u a l . B e m ' s w o r kis b a s e d o n t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t a n i n d i v id u a l 's g e n d e r i d e n t i t y r e p r e s e n t s a r el a-t i v e b a l a n c e o f " m a s c u l i n e " a n d " f e m i n i n e " c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . T h u s , i n d i v i d u a l s ,r e g a r d l e s s o f b i o l o g i c a l s e x , a r e s a i d t o b e s e x t y p e d a s m a s c u l i n e wh e n t h e ya t t r i b u t e t o t h e m s e l v e s a s i g n if i ca n t l y la r g er n u m b e r o f m a s c u l in e t h a n f e m i n i n et r a i t s , whi le the r eve r se i s t r ue fo r ind iv idua ls sex typed as f emin ine . I n con t r as t ,m a n y i n d i v i d u a l s a t t r i b u t e b o t h m a s c u l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t o t h e m -s e lv e s. S u c h i n d i v id u a l s a r e t e r m e d " a n d r o g y n o u s . " B e m ( 1 9 7 7 ) a l s o h a s d e-s c ri b e d a f o u r t h g r o u p o f in d i vi d ua ls , t e r m e d " u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d , " w h o t e n d n o tt o s t r o n g l y a t t r i b u t e e i t h e r m a s c u l i n e o r f e m i n i n e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t o t h e m s e l v e s .

Wi th r ega rd to humor , a se r ie s o f in te r es t ing ques t ions can be r a i sed con-c e r n i n g h u m o r a p p r e c i a t i o n i n i n d i v i d u a l s f r o m v a r i o u s g e n d e r i d e n t i t y g r o u p s .F o r e x a m p l e , i s t h e r e a c o r r e s p o n d e n c e b e t w e e n t h e h u m o r p r e f e r e n c e p a t t e r n so f b i o l o g i c a l m a l e s a n d f e m a l e s an d t h e i r g e n d e r i d e n t i t y c o u n t e r p a r t s . I n o t h e rwo r d s , w i ll m a s c u l i n e - t y p e d i n d iv i d u a ls p r e f e r s e x u a l o v e r n o n s e x u a l h u m o r , a n df e m i n i n e - t y p e d in d i v i d u al s t h e r e v e rs e p a t t e r n ? F u r t h e r m o r e , wh a t a b o u t p s y -c h o l o g i c a l ly a n d r o g y n o u s a n d u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d p e r s o n s ? Be rn ( 1 9 7 5 ) h a s su g-g e s t e d t h a t a n d r o g y n o u s i n d i v i d u a l s a r e m o r e a d a p t a b l e t h a n i n d i v i d u a l s f r o mo t h e r g e n d e r i d e n t i t y g r o u p s in t h a t t h e f o r m e r a re a b le t o a d o p t e i t h e r m a s c u -l ine o r f em in ine b ehav ior so as to f i t the s i tua t ion . I f th i s i s the case , one mig hte x p e c t a n d r o g y n o u s i n d iv i d u a ls t o s h o w l i t t le d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n i n t h e i r h u m o ra p p r e c i a t io n ; t h a t is, t h e y m a y a d a p t t o t h e h u m o r s i tu a t i o n b y s h o w i ng a p p re -c i at io n f o r b o t h s e x ua l a n d n o n s e x u a l h u m o r .

I n a d d i t io n t o t h e a b o v e q u e s t i o n s , t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y a l s o f o c u s e d o n th ec o n t e n t o f h u m o r s t im u l i a s a f a c t o r i n h u m o r a p p r e c i a t i o n . P a s t r e s e a r c h h a si n d i c a t e d t h a t g r e a t e r a p p r e c i a t i o n o f s e x u a l a n d a g gre ss iv e h u m o r b y m a l e st h a n f e m a l e s m a y b e r e s tr ic t e d t o s e x is t h u m o r . F o r e x a m p l e , C h a p m a n a n dGa d f i e l d ( 1 9 7 6 ) a s k e d m a l e s a n d f e m a l e s t o r a t e a s e r i e s o f c a r t o o n s t h a t c o n -t a i n e d a v a r i e t y o f s e x u a l a n d n o n s e x u a l t h e m e s . M a le s we r e f o u n d t o p r e f e r


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Sex , G ender , and H u mo r Apprec ia t ion 563s ex u al h u m o r m o r e t h a n f e m a le s o n l y w h e n t h e h u m o r w a s d e ro g a t o r y t o w a r dw o m e n a n d / o r w h e n w o m e n w e r e t r e a t e d a s a se x o b j e c t . I n c o n t r a s t , n o s e xd i f f e r e n c e s w e re o b s e rv e d fo r s e x u a l h u m o r w h i c h w a s n o n s e x i s t . S i m i l a r l y ,P r i es t a n d W i l h e lm (1 9 7 4 ) r e p o r t e d t h a t m a l e u n d e rg ra d u a t e s r a t e d a n t i f e m a l eh o s t i l i t y j o k e s fu n n i e r t h a n a n t i m a l e h o s t i l i t y j o k e s , w h i l e t h e r e v e r s e w a s n o t e df o r f e m a l e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , L o s c o a n d E p s t e i n ( 1 9 7 5 ) r e -p o r t e d t h a t b o t h m a l e a n d f e m a l e s u b j ec t s p r e f e r r e d c a r t o o n s i n w h i c h th eb ru n t o f t h e j o k e w a s a fe m a l e r a th e r t h a n a m a l e ( s ee a ls o C a n t o r , 1 9 7 6 ) .

G i v e n t h e r a t h e r n a r r o w f o c u s o f p a st r e s ea r c h o n s e x d i f fe r e n c e s i n h u m o ra p p r e c i a t i o n , a s w e l l as t h e r e c e n t c o n c e r n w i t h t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e m a t i c c o n -t e n t o f h u m o r s t i m u l i , t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y w a s d e s ig n e d to c o m p a re b io l o g i c a la n d p s y c h o l o g ic a l s e x a s f a c t o r s i n a p p r e c i a t i o n o f v a ri o us f o r m s o f h u m o r .I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i sh t h is g o a l, m a te a n d f e m a l e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s f r o m f o u rg e n d e r i d e n t i t y c a t e g o r ie s w e re p r e s e n t e d w i t h a se r ie s o f c a r t o o n s v a ry i n g i nc o n t e n t s o t h a t o n e - t h ir d o f t h e s t im u l i c o n t a in e d s e x u al th e m e s w i t h t h e f e m a l ea s th e b r u n t o f t h e j o k e , o n e - t h i r d c o n t a i n e d s e x u a l t h e m e s w i t h th e m a l e a s t h eb r u n t o f t h e j o k e , a n d o n e - t h i r d c o n t a i n e d a b s u r d th e m e s .

M E T H O D

SubjectsO n e h u n d r e d s i x t y m a l e a n d f e m a l e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s f r o m l o w e r

l e v el p s y c h o l o g y c o u r s e s w e re p r e t e s t e d i n l a rg e g ro u p s u s i n g t h e B e m S e x R o l eIn v e n t o ry (B e rn , 1 9 7 4 ) . O n t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r s c o re s , i n d i v id u a l s w e re p l a c e d i n t oo n e o f f o u r g e n d e r i d e n t i t y c a t e g o r i e s : 4 6 i n t h e m a s c u l i n e g ro u p , 4 7 i n t h e f e m -i n in e g ro u p , 3 4 i n t h e a n d ro g y n o u s g ro u p , a n d 33 in t h e u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d g ro u p .O f t h o s e p r e t e s t e d , a t o t a l o f 9 6 s u b j e c t s , 1 2 m a l e s a n d 1 2 f e m a l e s f ro m e a c ho f t h e fo u r g e n d e r i d e n t i t y g ro u p s , w e re c h o s e n t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e s t u d y . B e -c a u se o f s c h e d u li n g p r o b l e m s , h o w e v e r , 1 f e m a l e in t h e m a s c u l in e g r o u p a n d 4m a l e s i n t h e u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d g r o u p c o u l d n o t p a r t i c i p a t e , t h u s r e d u c in g t h esubjec t s ample to 91 ind iv idua l s . Al l sub jec t s rece ived course c red i t fo r pa r t i c i -p a t i n g i n t h e s t u d y .

MaterialsBern Sex Role Inventory. B e m ' s i n v e n t o r y ( 1 9 7 4 ) is a p a p e r -a n d - p e n c il

s c al e c o n s is t in g o f 6 0 p e r s o n a l i t y c h a ra c t e r i st i c s ( 2 0 m a s c u l i n e , 2 0 f e m i n i n e , 2 0n e u t r a l ) d e v e l o p e d t o m e a s u re g e n d e r i d e n t i t y . A p e r s o n is a s k e d t o in d i c a t e o n


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564 Brod zinsky, Barnet, and AieUoa s c a l e o f 1 (n e v e r , o r a l m o s t n e v e r t r u e ) t o 7 ( a lw a y s , o r a l m o s t a l w a y s t r u e )h o w w e l l e a c h c h a ra c t e r i s ti c d e s c r ib e s h i m s e l f o r h e r s e lf . F o r e a c h i n d i v id u a l am e a n m a s c u l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e s c o re is c a lc u l a t e d . T o d e t e rm i n e g e n d e r c a t e g o ryp l a c e m e n t , a m e d i a n s p l i t i s c o m p u t e d fo r a l l m a s c u l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e s c o re si n d e p e n d e n t l y . I n d i v id u a l s a re s e x t y p e d a s m a s c u l i n e i f t h e i r m a s c u l in e s c o reis a b o v e t h e m e d i a n a n d t h e i r f e m i n i n e s c o re is b e l o w t h e m e d i a n . O n t h e o t h e rh a n d , i n d i v id u a l s a r e s e x t y p e d a s f e m i n i n e i f t h e i r m a s c u l i n e s c o re i s b e l o w t h em e d i a n a n d t h e i r f e m i n i n e s c o re i s a b o v e t h e m e d i a n . F i n a l l y , i n d i v i d u a l s a r ec o n s i d e re d a n d ro g y n o u s i f b o t h s c o re s a r e a b o v e t h e m e d i a n , a n d u n d i f f e r e n t i -a t e d i f b o t h s c o re s a r e b e l o w t h e m e d i a n . I n t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y , s u b j e c t s ' m a s c u -l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e m e d i a n s c o re s w e re 4 . 8 7 a n d 4 . 8 3 , r e s p e c t i v e l y . T h e s e s c o re sa r e q u i t e s i m i l a r t o t h o s e r e p o r t e d b y B e m (1 9 7 4 , 1 9 7 7 ) .

I n l ig h t o f t h e r e c e n t c o n t r o v e r s y r e g a rd i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t o f g e n d e ri d e n t i t y ( B e m , 1 9 7 7 ; H e i l b ru n , 1 9 7 6 ; S p e n c e , H e l m r e i c h , & S t a p p , 1 9 7 5 ;S t r a h a n , 1 9 7 5 ) , i t s h o u l d b e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t o r i g i n a l ly B e m su g g e s te d c a te -g o r i z i n g s u b j e c t s o n h e r s c a l e b y m e a n s o f a t r a t i o fo r t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e na p e r s o n ' s f e m i n i n e a n d m a s c u l i n e s c o res . A c c o rd i n g l y , a si g n if i ca n t p o s it i v e ts core s ign i f i ed a femin ine gen der ide n t i ty , an d a s ign i f ican t nega t ive t s core sig-n i f i e d a m a s c u l i n e g e n d e r i d e n t i t y . F u r t h e rm o re , t h e c l o s er a p e r s o n ' s t s c o rew a s t o z e r o , t h e m o r e t h e p e r s o n w a s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a n d r o g y n o u s . T h i s p r o -c e d u re , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t d i s ti n g u i sh b e t w e e n h i g h -h i g h s c o r in g i n d iv i d u a ls (w h os t ro n g l y a t t r i b u t e d b o t h m a s c u l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e c h a ra c te r i s ti c s t o t h e m s e l v e s )a n d l o w 4 o w s c o r in g in d i v id u a l s (w h o t e n d e d n o t t o a t t r ib u t e e i t h e r m a s c u l i n eo r f e m i n i n e t r a i t s t o t h e m s e l v e s ) . R e c e n t l y , B e rn (1 9 7 7 ) h a s a g re e d w i t h h e rc r i t i c s t h a t t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n h i g h -h i g h a n d l o w q o w s c o re r s i s w a r r a n t e d ,a n d t h a t o n l y t h e fo rm e r i n d i v id u a l s s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e re d a n d ro g y n o u s , w h i let h e l a t t e r g ro u p i s b e s t c h a ra c t e r i z e d a s u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o g e n d e ri d e n t i t y . W e h a v e a d o p t e d t h e d o u b l e m e d i a n s p l it p r o c e d u r e i n st e a d o f t h et r a t i o f o r d e t e r m i n in g g e n d e r c a t e g o r y p l a c e m e n t a s r e c o m m e n d e d b y B e m( 1 9 7 7 ) .

Humor Stimuli. A f t e r c a r e fu l a n a ly s i s o f a l arg e n u m b e r o f c a r t o o n s f ro mc o n t e m p o r a r y b o o k s a n d m a g a z i n e s, a to t a l o f 4 8 c a r t o o n s w e r e in i ti a ll y s e le c te db y t h e f i rs t t w o a u t h o r s . T h e s e s t im u l i w e re t h e n p r e s e n t e d t o 1 0 j u d g e s fo rp l a c e m e n t i n t o o n e o f f o u r c a t e g o ri e s: s e x u al t h e m e , w i t h a m a l e a s " s e x o b j e c t "o r b r u n t o f t h e j o k e ( S M ) ; s e x u a l th e m e , w i t h a f e m a l e a s " s e x o b j e c t " o r b r u n to f t h e jo k e (S F ) ; a b s u rd t h e m e (A B ) ; o r u n c e r t a i n . S i x c a r t o o n s w e re c h o s e nf ro m e a c h o f t h e f i r s t th r e e c a t e g o r ie s t o b e t e s t s t im u l i . I n o rd e r f o r a c a r t o o nt o b e s e l e c t e d , n o m o re t h a n o n e ju d g e c o u l d d i sa g ree o n i t s p l a c e m e n t . O f t h ec a r t o o n s s e l e c t e d , t h e r e w a s 9 6 % a g re e m e n t a m o n g j u d g e s fo r c a t e g o ry p l a c e -m e n t . T h re e c a r t o o n s f ro m t h e u n c e r t a i n c a t e g o ry a l s o w e re i n c l u d e d a s w a rm -u p s t im u l i . T h e 2 1 c a r t o o n s w e re p r e s e n t e d i n a l o o s e l e a f n o t e b o o k , o n e c a r t o o np e r p a g e . T h e 3 w a rm -u p c a r t o o n s w e re p r e s e n t e d f i r st , f o l lo w e d b y t h e 1 8 t e s ts t i m u l i a r r a n g e d i n o n e c o n s t a n t r a n d o m i z e d o rd e r , w i t h t h e c o n s t r a i n t t h a t n ot w o c a r t o o n s f r o m t h e s a m e c a t e g o r y f o ll o w o n e a n o t h e r .


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Sex , G ender , and H u mo r Apprec ia t ion 565Procedure

S u b j e c t s w e re p r e s e n t e d w i t h t h e h u m o r s t i m u l i in a n i n d i v id u a l t e s t in gs e ss io n b y t h e s e c o n d a u t h o r , w h o a t t h e t i m e w a s u n a w a re o f su b j e c t s ' g e n d e ri d e n t i t y s t a tu s . S u b j e c t s w e re b ro u g h t i n t o a s m a l l r o o m a n d s e a t e d a t a t a b l ef a ci n g a o n e - w a y m i r r o r t h a t w a s p a r t l y c o v e r e d . T h e n o t e b o o k c o n t a in i n g t h eh u m o r s t i m u l i w a s p l a c e d o n a s m a l l s t a n d i n f ro n t o f t h e s u b j e c t . A t th i s p o i n t ,t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t s h e w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n fi n d i n g o u t w h a t k i n d o fh u m o r d i f f er e n t p e o p l e e n j o y , a n d h o w t h e y r e s p o n d p h y s i o lo g i c a ll y t o h u m o r .S u b j e c t s w e re t o l d t h a t a m e a s u re o f p u ls e r a t e w o u l d b e t a k e n b y a d e v ic ea t t a c h e d t o t h e i r n e c k . A c t u a l l y , t h e d e v i c e w a s a d i s g u i s e d t h ro a t m i c ro p h o n ec o n n e c t e d t o a n a m p l i f ic a t i o n s y s t e m i n a n a d jo i n in g r o o m . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h ism i n o r d e c e p t i o n w a s t o a ll o w t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r t o m o n i t o r l o w le v el s o f c h u c k -l in g a n d l a u g h t e r ( p a r t o f a m i r t h s c a l e ) w i t h o u t t h e s u b j e c t fe e li n g u n c o m fo r -t a b l e b e c a u s e o f t h e o b v i o u s p r e s e n c e o f a m i c r o p h o n e .

A f t e r e x p l a in i n g t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e " m o n i t o r i n g d e v i c e ," a n d a tt a c h in g itt o t h e s u b j e c t ' s n e c k , t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e s u b j e c t w o u l d b er a t in g a s e r ie s o f c a r t o o n s o n t w o 5 -p o i n t s c a le s : f u n n in e s s (1 = n o t f u n n y , 5 =e x t r e m e l y fu n n y ) a n d f a m i l i a r i t y (1 = n o t a t a ll fa m i l i a r, 5 = e x t r e m e l y f a m i li a r ).I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e m e a s u re s , t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r a l so r a t e d s u b j e c t ' s s p o n t a n e o u sm i r t h t o e a c h c a r t o o n t h r o u g h t h e o n e - w a y m i r r o r (1 = b l a n k e x p r es s io n , 2 =s l igh t smi le , 3 = fu l l smi le , 4 = chuckl ing or l aughte r ) . In te r ra te r re l i ab i l i ty fo rm i r t h b e t w e e n t h e f i rs t t w o a u t h o r s w a s 88 % .

B e fo re l e a v i n g t h e t e s ti n g ro o m , t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r a s k e d t h e s u b j e c t t oc a r e fu l l y r e a d a s e p a ra t e s e t o f i n s t ru c t i o n s o n t h e f i rs t p a g e o f t h e n o t e b o o k .T h e s e w r i t t e n i n s t ru c t io n s r e i t e r a t e d t h e v e rb a l i n s t ru c t io n s , a n d w e re u s e dp r i m a r i l y t o c r e a t e e n o u g h t i m e t o a l lo w th e e x p e r i m e n t e r t o g e t i n t o t h e ad -j o i n i n g ro o m b e fo re t h e s u b j e c t b e g a n r a t i n g t h e c a r t o o n s . T h e i n s t ru c t i o n se m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r w o u l d b e m o n i t o r i n g p u l s e r a t e i n t h e o t h e rro o m , a n d c o u l d n o t t e l l w h e n t h e s u b j e c t b e g a n o r f i n i s h e d r a t i n g t h e c a r t o o n s .T h e re fo re , t h e s u b j e c t w a s a s k e d t o p u s h a b u z z e r l o c a t e d o n t h e t a b l e t o s i g n a lt h e e x p e r i m e n t e r w h e n h e / s h e b e g a n a n d f i n i s h e d r a t i n g t h e s t i m u l i . O n c e a g a i n ,t h is d e c e p t i o n w a s a d o p t e d t o d e t e r a n y s u s p ic i on o n t h e p a r t o f su b j ec t s t h a tt h e y w e re b e i n g o b s e rv e d , a n d t o e n s u re r e la t i v e ly n a t u r a l r e sp o n d i n g . O n t h eb a s i s o f s u b j e c t s ' r e m a rk s d u r i n g a d e b r i e f i n g s e s s i o n , b o t h d e c e p t i o n s a p p e a re dt o h a v e a c c o m p l i sh e d t h e i r p u r p o s e .

R E S U L T S

Cartoon FamiliarityS in c e g r o u p d i f fe r e n ce s i n h u m o r a p p r e c i a t io n m i g h t b e a f f e c t e d b y d if -

f e r e n t i a l f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e c a r t o o n s , a p r e l i m i n a ry 2 (S e x ) X 4 (G e n d e r Id e n t i t y )


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566 Brodzinsky, Barnet, and AielloTable I. Mean Familiarity Score as a Function ofSubject and Cartoon Content

SM SF AB TotalMales 1.63 1.65 1.27 1.52Fem ales 1.53 1.51 1.51 1.52Total 1.58 1.58 1.39

3 ( C a r t o o n T y p e ) a n a ly s i s o f v a ri a n c e w i t h r e p e a t e d m e a s u r e s o n t h e l a t te rv a r i a b l e w a s p e r f o r m e d o n t h e c a r t o o n f a m i l i a r i t y d a t a . T h e m a i n e f f e c t f o rC a r t o o n T y p e a n d t h e S e x C a r t o o n T y p e in t e r a c t io n w e r e b o t h s ig n i fi c an t ,F ( 2 , 1 6 6 ) = 9 . 0 3 , p < . 0 0 1 , F ( 2 , 1 6 6 ) = 8 . 9 1 , p < . 0 0 1 , r e s p e c ti v e l y . T a b l e Ii n d i c a te s t h a t w h i l e f e m a l e s w e r e e q u a l l y f a m i l ia r w i t h a ll c a r t o o n c a t e g o r ie s ,m a l e s w e r e m o r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e t w o s e x u a l c a t e g o r i e s ( S M a n d S F ) t h a n t h ea b s u r d c a t e g o r y ( A B ) ( p < . 0 1 ). F u r t h e r m o r e , w h i l e f e m a l e s w e r e s i g n i f ic a n t l ym o r e f a m i l ia r w i t h a b s u r d c a r t o o n s t h a n m a l e s ( p < . 0 5 ) , a t r e n d i n t h e o p p o -s it e d i r e c t i o n w a s n o t e d f o r s e x u a l c a r t o o n s . 2

Sex Dif ferences in H um or Appreciat ionS e p a r a te 2 ( S e x ) 3 ( C a r t o o n T y p e ) r e p e a t e d m e a s u re s a n a ly s e s o f c o -

v a r i a n c e w e r e c o m p u t e d f o r t h e m i r t h a n d f u n n i n e s s r a t i n g d a t a . T h e c o v a r i a t ew a s s u b j e c t s ' f a m i l i a r it y s c o r e s f o r e a c h c a r t o o n t y p e .

F o r t h e m i r t h d a t a , t h e m a i n e f f e c t f o r S e x s h o w e d a t r e n d t o w a r d s i gn if i-c a n c e , F ( 1 , 8 8 ) = 3 . 4 7 , p < . 0 7 , i n d i ca t in g t h a t m a l es ( M = 1 . 6 1 ) te n d e d t o s m il ea n d l a u gh m o r e t h a n f e m a le s ( M = 1 . 4 3 ) t o t h e h u m o r s ti m u l i. T h e m a i n e f f e c tf o r C a r t o o n T y p e w a s al so s ig n i f ic a n t , F ( 2 , 1 7 7 ) = 4 . 8 5 , p < . 0 1 . O v e r a ll , s u b -j e c ts p r e f e r re d S F c a r t o o n s ( M = 1 . 6 2 ) m o r e t h a n e i th e r S M ( M = 1 . 4 6 ) o r A B( M = 1 . 4 9 ) c a r t o o n s . T h e s e e f f e c t s w e r e q u a l i f i e d , h o w e v e r , b y a s i g n i fi c a n t S e x C a r t o o n T y p e i n t e r a c t io n , F ( 2 , 1 7 7 ) = 3 . 7 9 , p < . 0 5 . I n s p e c t i o n o f F ig u r e 1s h o w s t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n t ia l m i r t h r e s p o n s e t o t h e v a ri o u s c a r t o o n t y p e s w a sf o u n d o n l y f o r m a l e s ( p < . 0 5) . F e m a l e s p r o d u c e d a b o u t t h e s a m e le v el o f m i r t ht o a ll c a r t o o n c a t e g o r ie s . I n a d d i t i o n , m a l e s s h o w e d s i g n i f i c a n t ly g r e a te r m i r t ht h a n f e m a le s f o r S F c a r t o o n s ( p < . 0 5 ), b u t n o t f o r S M o r A B c a r t o o n s .

F o r t h e f u n n i n e s s r a ti n g d a t a , o n l y t h e m a i n e f f e c t f o r C a r t o o n T y p e a n dt h e S e x C a r t o o n T y p e in t e r a c t i o n w e r e si g n i fi c a n t, F ( 1 , 8 8 ) = 3 . 1 0 , p < . 0 5 ,F ( 2 , 1 7 7 ) = 7 . 0 4 , p < . 0 0 2 , re s p e c ti v e ly . T h e m a i n e f f e c t f o r C a r t o o n T y p e

2 Simple effects tests and New man-K euls tests were used throu gho ut the data analysis totest fo r specific grou p d ifferences.


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Sex, Gender, and Humor Appreciation 567

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568 Brodzinsky, Bam et, and Aie llopa r a ll e le d t h e f ind i ngs f o r t he m i r t h da t a i n t ha t S F c a r t oons ( M = 2 . 71 ) w e r ea pp r e c i a t e d m or e t ha n e i t he r SM (M = 2 . 54 ) o r A B (M = 2 .51 ) c a r t oons . I nc on t r a s t , t he S e x Ca r t oo n T y pe i n t e r a c t i on y i e l de d s om e w ha t d i f f e r e n t r e su l tsfor the funnines s ra t ing as opposed to the mi r th da ta ( s ee F igure 1) . Femaless how e d no d i f f e r e nc e s i n m i r t h f o r t he d i f f e r e n t c a r t oo n c a t e go r ie s , bu t t he yt e nd e d t o r a t e A B c a r t oon s a s f unn i e r t ha n e i t he r S M o r S F c a r t oons ( p < . 10 ) .M a l e s r a t e d S F c a r t oons f unn i e r t ha n S M c a r t oons , w h i c h t he y r a t e d f unn i e rt ha n A B c a r t oons ( p < . 01 ) . F u r t he r m or e , w h i l e m a l e s r a t e d S F c a r t oon s h i ghe ri n f unn i ne s s t ha n f e m a l es ( p < . 05) , t he r e ve rs e pa t t e r n w a s no t e d f o r A Bc a r t oons ( p < . 05 ) . N o s e x d i f f e re nc e s w e r e f oun d f o r S M c a r t oons .

G e n d e r D i f f e r e n c e s i n H u m o r A p p r e c i a t i o nI n o r de r t o de t e r m i ne w he t he r s ub j e c t s f r om t he va r i ous ge nde r i de n t i t y

g r oups d i s p l a ye d d i f f e r e n t i a l hum or a pp r e c i a t i on , a 4 ( G e nde r I de n t i t y ) X 3( Ca r t o on T yp e ) r e pe a t e d m e a s u r e s a na ly sis o f c ova ri a nc e w a s c om pu t e d f o rbo th the m i r th and fun nines s ra t ing da ta . Once aga in , the covar i a t e was subjec t s 'f a m i l i a r i t y s c o r e s f o r e a c h c a r t oon c a t e go r y . T he s e a na l y s e s w e r e pe r f o r m e dsepara te ly for m a les and females , how ever , s ince an overa l l ana lysi s o f covar i-a nc e w h i c h i nc l ude d S e x a s a f a c t o r t e nde d t o obs c u r e t he d i f f e r e n t pa t t e r n o fr e s u l t s f ound f o r t he t w o s e xe s . F u r t he r m or e , s i nc e t he m i r t h a nd f unn i ne s sr a ti ng da t a p r odu c e d t he s a m e r e s u lt s, on l y t he m i r t h da t a w ill be p r e s e n te d .A l t hough t he m a i n e f f e c t f o r G e nde r I de n t i t y w a s no t s i gn i f i c a n t f o re i t he r s e x , t he G e nde r I de n t i t y X Ca r t oon T ype i n t e r a c t i on w a s s i gn i f i c a n t f o rfemales , F ( 6 , 85) = 3 .34 , p < .01 , bu t no t fo r ma les . F igure 2 ind ica tes tha tm a s c u l i ne a nd a nd r ogynous f e m a l e s ge ne r a l l y s how e d t he s a m e pa t t e r n o fc a r t oon p r e f e r e nc e . Bo t h g r oups d i s p l a ye d s i gn i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r m i r t h t o S Ft ha n S M o r A B c a r t oons ( p < . 05 ). I n c on t r a s t , fe m i n i ne f em a l e s s how e d g r e a t e rm i r t h t o A B c a r t o o n s t h a n t o e i th e r c a t e g o r y o f s e x ua l h u m o r ( p < . 01 ) . N od i f f e r e nc e s i n m i r t h w e r e n o t e d f o r u nd i f f e r e n t i a t e d f e m a l e s ' r e s ponse s t o t hevar ious ca r toon ca tegor i es . For ma les , a l l gender iden t i ty groups showed es sen-t i a ll y the s am e h um or p r e f e r e nc e pa t t e r n ; tha t is , t he y a pp r e c i a t e d S F c a r t oonst he m os t , w i t h l i t t l e d i f f e r e nc e be t w e e n S M a nd A B c a r t oons . A ndr ogynousm a l e s , how e ve r , w e r e t he on l y s ub j e ct s w h o d i s p la ye d the s a m e l e vel o f m i r t ht o S M a nd S F c a r t oons .S imple e f fec t s t e s t s a lso sho wed th a t fo r fem ales the re were d i f fe rencesi n t he a m oun t o f m i r t h d i s p la ye d by t he ge nde r i de n t i t y g r oups f o r t he va r iousc a r t oon t he m e s . F o r S M c a r t oons , m a s c u l i ne f e m a l e s p r oduc e d s i gn i f i c a n t l yg r e a t er m i r t h t ha n f e m i n i ne f e m a l e s ( p < . 05 ) ; a nd r og yno us a nd und i f f e r e n -t i a t e d f e m a le s f e ll be t w e e n t he s e g r oups , bu t w e r e no t d i f f e r e n t f r om t he m .Masculine and and rog yn ous females a lso show ed grea te r m i r th than fem in ine


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/ )UJ- J

brodzinsky barnet aiello sex roles volume 7 issue 5 1981 david m. brodzinsky; karen barnet; john r....

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