Melanie Booth-Butterfield

Individual differences in the communication of humorous messages

This report develops an individual differences approach to the encoding of humor, provides a scale to measure it, and offers four empirical studies in support of the conceptualization. Results indicate that individual differences in the predisposition to enact humorous messages can be reliably measured via the Humor Orientation Scale. Variation in humorous orientation is related to the number of situations in which the person will or will not attempt humor, the number of different types of humor behavior encoded, the level of detail used to describe humorous episodes, and amount of planning prior to enactment of humor, a predispositon both stable and consistant across time.

Explanations of ethnic and gender differences in youth smoking: A multi-site, qualitative investigation

Two of the most powerful predictors of adolescent smoking are ethnicity and gender, but little research has focused on understanding how these factors play a role in adolescent smoking. This paper reports results from a qualitative, multi-site investigation of explanations for ethnic and gender differences in cigarette smoking with five ethnic groups: whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian-American/Pacific Islanders. Across 11 states, we conducted 178 focus groups with a total of 1175 adolescents. The groups explored such major research themes as reasons for smoking and not smoking; images of smoking and smokers; messages youth receive about smoking and not smoking; and the social context of smoking. We synthesized data from the focus groups through multiple cross-site collaborations and discussions, with an emphasis on identifying consistent themes across a majority of groups and sites. Striking differences emerged across ethnic and gender sub-groups in reasons for not smoking. African-American females in particular viewed not smoking as a positive identity marker. Asian-American/Pacific Islander females similarly reported strong mandates not to smoke. Youths perceptions of family messages about smoking also varied by ethnicity and gender, with African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American/Pacific Islander youth consistently reporting strong, clear anti-smoking messages from family. These findings, notable in their consistency across geographic regions, may shed light on the discrepant prevalence of smoking across ethnic and gender groups.

“If We Didn't Use Humor, We'd Cry”: Humorous Coping Communication in Health Care Settings

ABSTRACT Folkman and Lazaruss transactional theory of emotion and coping was used to explain how humor influences job satisfaction among health care providers. One hundred forty-two nurses completed measures of humor orientation (HO), coping efficacy, job satisfaction, and open-ended questions about their use of humor to relieve job tensions. This produced 9 categories of strategies of producing humor and 8 types of work situations identified in which humor was used to cope. Nurses (21.4%) reported using humor the most often during “patient care” situations (e.g., providing medicines, moving patients, physical therapy, and so on). More than one third (38.66%) of the nurses reported using “word-play/language” as a humorous coping strategy. Higher HO was associated with higher ratings of humor effectiveness, greater self-perceived coping efficacy, and higher emotional expressivity. Path analysis demonstrated that, as the transactional theory would predict, trait HO influences job satisfaction through its effect on heightened coping efficacy. Study limitations include the use of self-report methods and the limited number of responses to the open-ended items. Subsequent research in this area should attempt to validate the categories identified in this study and determine the most effective means of coping. Researchers also should explore differences in health care providers’ coping communication based on gender, years of experience, and profession.

Are funny people popular? An examination of humor orientation, loneliness, and social attraction

In order to understand the role of humorous communication in relationships, 125 undergraduates completed measures of Humor Orientation (HO), loneliness, and verbal aggressiveness (VA), and then had two acquaintances complete other‐perceived HO and social attractiveness on them. Results indicated that higher HO was associated with lower levels of loneliness. Acquaintances’ perceptions of HO and self‐reported HO were positively related, and people seen as more humorous were also seen as socially attractive. VA individuals did not report more loneliness, but were perceived to be less socially attractive, due in part to the finding that individuals higher in VA tend to target others when they enact humor.

The influence of family communication on the college‐aged child: Openness, attitudes and actions about sex and alcohol

This study examined how openness in family communication patterns relates to attitudes and behaviors of college‐aged children using a sample of 133 students and their parents. Parents and children reported similar perceptions of the openness of their familys communication and attitudes about sexuality and alcohol use. While attitudes did not predict behavior, the more families discussed these topics, the greater the likelihood that students acted safely regarding sex and alcohol.

The Funny People: A Source-Orientation to the Communication of Humor.

Research investigated the production of humor and correlates with the communicator trait of Humor Orientation (HO; Booth‐Butterfield & Booth‐Butterfield, 1991). In Phase One, 161 university students completed four self report scales. Humor Orientation was positively correlated with communication traits of communicator adaptability, concern for eliciting positive impressions, affective orientation, and situational sense of humor. To compare differences in humor production, 57 students from Phase One were recruited on the basis of HO scores. High (N=29) and low (N=28) HOs delivered 3 jokes. High HOs were perceived to be funnier than low HOs both by participant‐observers and by independent coders who listened to audiotapes. However, participant‐observers rated messages significantly funnier than those who only listened to tapes.

Reach out and Touch Someone: Analysis of Nonverbal Comforting Responses.

Nonverbal comforting responses to an hypothetical scenario were collected and categorized by an analytic inductive technique in an effort to extend the boundaries of comforting research. This resulted in twelve identifiable categories of nonverbal responses to a situation calling for comforting communication. Participants also completed the Affective Orientation Measure (AO) to assess the relationship of use of emotions to comforting. Results indicated that males reported fewer comforting strategies and less diverse comforting responses than did females. Comforting strategy use was positively correlated with affective orientation.

Investing in Affection: An Investigation of Human Affection Exchange Theory and Relational Qualities

Affection exchange theory (AET; Floyd, 2001) argues that affectionate communication fosters long-term survival. AET specifically argues that part of this process occurs through the enhancement of close relational bonds. This study tests this proposition, specifically examining how affectionate messages relate to relational investment (satisfaction, commitment, quality of alternatives, and investment size). Analysis of 72 couples (N = 144; M = 35.58 years old) revealed that giving and receiving affection positively related to commitment and satisfaction. Receiving affection strongly predicted perceptions of satisfaction, and communicating affection better predicted commitment. Affection accounted for between 17% and 35% of the variance in perceptions of commitment and satisfaction.

Stifle or stimulate? The effects of communication task structure on apprehensive and non‐apprehensive students

The structure of communication assignments is an aspect of the class environment almost completely within the control of the educator, yet it is often overlooked as an influence on apprehensive and non‐apprehensive students. Although there are indications that structured tasks are helpful to apprehensive students, less attention has been directed toward potential debilitative effects of structure on non‐apprehensive students. The results of this study suggest an interaction between trait CA and task structure. Suggestions for structure‐added and structure‐reduced communication assignments are outlined to enhance the learning environment of students with varying levels of communication apprehension.

Effects of Evaluation, Task Structure, Trait-CA, and Reticence on State-CA and Behavioral Disruption in Dyadic Settings.

This study investigated the influence of trait communication apprehension and reticence, task structure, and evaluation level on communication behavior and state anxiety. Confederate/participant dyads were videotaped for analysis. Results indicate that trait CA is the strongest predictor of state anxiety. Behavioral disruption was as most strongly predicted by several trait by situational variable interactions. This outcome demonstrates that the effect of task and evaluation is systematically dependent on the trait level within the individual. Results of this study raise serious questions concerning the measurement of reticence.