NCJ Number
222409
Journal
Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: 2007 Pages: 27-41
Date Published
2007
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study tested the hypothesis that a response accentuating the prosocial humor embedded within a teasing interaction could create a friendly social construction within a teasing encounter.
Abstract
The results support the hypothesis that a prosocial humorous response to teasing created a more friendly social construction of the teasing encounter. Responding to teasing with affiliative humor was superior to aggressive humor or ignoring. After hearing this type of response, the teaser felt friendlier toward the target when anticipating the next encounter. In addition, the teaser felt more attractive, better about him or herself, and less aggressive when receiving the affiliative humor response as compared to a response using aggressive humor or ignoring. This increases the probability that the next interaction will be more pleasant for the target and more mutually enhancing for both persons. Interpersonal teasing is probably experienced by everyone. Teasing is often considered a form of bullying; however research suggests that teasing simultaneously communicates aggression and a prosocial message embedded in a humorous statement that is unclear in its positive or negative purpose. In this study, the creation of a more friendly social construction of a teasing encounter using a prosocial human response was investigated. Study participants included 120 undergraduate students from 2 large universities in the southwestern United States with 58 males and 62 females. Tables and references