TY - JOUR
T1 - Taking Back Power
T2 - Using Superiority Theory to Predict Humor Use Following a Relational Transgression
AU - Vallade, Jessalyn I.
AU - Booth-Butterfield, Melanie
AU - Vela, Lori E.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Superiority theory has explained and predicted receivers' appreciation of humor; this study utilized a superiority framework from a source orientation and explored humor following relational transgressions. College students (N = 220; 60% male) completed questionnaires about a relational transgression in a close friendship or romantic relationship. Results indicated that use of negative humor targeted at the relational transgressor was positively related to severity of the transgression (r =.15) and levels of punitive power (r =.34), as well as aggressive humor style (r =.39). Superiority theory was supported as a viable framework for investigating humor production in interpersonal relationships.
AB - Superiority theory has explained and predicted receivers' appreciation of humor; this study utilized a superiority framework from a source orientation and explored humor following relational transgressions. College students (N = 220; 60% male) completed questionnaires about a relational transgression in a close friendship or romantic relationship. Results indicated that use of negative humor targeted at the relational transgressor was positively related to severity of the transgression (r =.15) and levels of punitive power (r =.34), as well as aggressive humor style (r =.39). Superiority theory was supported as a viable framework for investigating humor production in interpersonal relationships.
KW - Humor
KW - Interpersonal Communication
KW - Punitive Power
KW - Relational Transgression
KW - Superiority Theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873920381&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84873920381&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10570314.2012.669018
DO - 10.1080/10570314.2012.669018
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84873920381
SN - 1057-0314
VL - 77
SP - 231
EP - 248
JO - Western Journal of Communication
JF - Western Journal of Communication
IS - 2
ER -