Patrick Garrido

English 2367.02
Annotated Bibliography
Topic: The Importance of Inclusivity in Humor

Jovanovic, Veljko. "Do Humor Styles Matter In the Relationship Between Personality
and Subjective Well-being?" Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 52.5 (2011): 50207. Print.
An article which examines the role of humor styles in life satisfaction and
well-being and personality. An experiment undertaken shows that self-enhancing
humor has a correlation with satisfaction with life. Affilative humor is shown to also
be correlated to neuroticism and well-being. Individuals with a lower life satisfaction
trended towards self-defeating humor and neuroticism. A decrease in the use of
affiliative humor could be proven as detrimental.

The article provides an interesting counterpoint to the idea that selfdepreciation as a form of humor can be positive. It brings into question the
veracity of the self-depreciation in the comedians work. Is it a tool in order
to relate to the audience or is an honest expression of sorrow. Is selfdepreciating humor unhealthy? Is it effective as a tool of inclusion?

Esralew, Sarah E. Beating Others to the Punch: Exploring the Influence of

Self-Depreciating Humor on Source Perceptions Through Expectancy
Violations Theory. Thesis. Ohio State University, 2012. Wordcat. Web. 18 Oct.
2013.

A thesis which examines the use of inclusive, self-depreciating humor

in politics. The study particularly focuses on this use of humor in regards to
the Expectancy Violations Theory (Burgoon, 1978). A study conducted
concluded that self-depreciations use by candidates fostered a greater sense
of similarity for prospective voters. Interestingly, the author notes that this
correlation was rather weak. Provides another interesting perspective on the
use of inclusive humor.
The political field is another interesting use of inclusivity in humor. Is
its use really that effective, both politically and in general? Is selfdepreciation an outdated form of inclusion? Further indicates the widespread
use of self-depreciation, which implies its credibility. Relates back to the
theory of incongruity.

Didonato, Theresa E., Mellisha C. Bedminster, and Jonna J. Machel. "My Funny
Valentine: How Humor Styles Affect Romantic Interest." Personal
Relationships20.2 (2013): 374-90. Web. 18 Oct. 2013
An article discussing the importance of humor style (affliative or
aggressive) in relationships. A test undertaken indicates that afflitive,
inclusive humor tended to garner more interest than aggressive humor.
Stresses the importance of inclusive humor for longer relationships, as
compared to casual encounters. Brings an interesting question as to what

counts as inclusive or afflitive humor. Suggests a negative response to

aggressive or exclusive humor.
Inclusive humor plays a major role even in basic human relationships.
Is it always received better than aggressive humor? To what degree is
inclusive humor more popular? Does inclusivity in humor come
subconsciously or is it a marked choice? This article further underscores the
use of inclusivity in humor, and suggests that it can be a key factor in human
relationships. This begs to question, is all good humor inclusive?

Gruner, Charles R. The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of

Why We Laugh. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 1997. Print. 20 Oct. 2013.
Discusses the Superiority Theory of humor postulated by Thomas
Hobbes. Underscores the use of negativity throughout comedy. Further
establishes the idea of a joke having a victim or loser of some sort. Builds
upon and quantifies the theory, stating that most humor is not very benign.
Creates a clear distinction between humor as good-natured play and humor
as a tool to exclude. Implies that humor is not entirely innocuous.
This book establishes another important counterpoint to the idea that
inclusivity in humor is important. It addresses the idea that there is always a
form of victim, whether it be a person in the joke or the audience
themselves. However, the idea of a group of people sharing in this exclusivity

is an important idea to consider. Are we inclusive in our superiority? Or are

we only inclusive of those we consider in on the joke?