Product Description

Research on humor is carried out in a number of areas in psychology, including the cognitive (What makes something funny?), developmental (when do we develop a sense of humor?), and social (how is humor used in social interactions?) Although there is enough interest in the area to have spawned several societies, the literature is dispersed in a number of primary journals, with little in the way of integration of the material into a book.

Dr. Martin is one of the best known researchers in the area, and his research goes across subdisciplines in psychology to be of wide appeal. This is a singly authored monograph that provides in one source, a summary of information researchers might wish to know about research into the psychology of humor. The material is scholarly, but the presentation of the material is suitable for people unfamiliar with the subject-making the book suitable for use for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses on the psychology of humor-which have not had a textbook source.

2007 AATH Book Award for Humor/Laughter Research category!

*Up-to-date coverage of research on humor and laughter in every area of psychology
*Research findings are integrated into a coherent conceptual framework
*Includes recent brain imaging studies, evolutionary models, and animal research
*Draws on contributions from sociology, linguistics, neuroscience, and anthropology
*Provides an overview of theories of humor and early research
*Explores applications of humor in psychotherapy, education, and the workplace
*Points out interesting topics for further research and promising research methodologies
*Written in a scholarly yet easily accessible style
*2007 AATH Book Award for Humor/Laughter Research category

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #549548 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

From the Back Cover
Most of us laugh at something funny multiple times during a typical day. Humor serves multiple purposes and though there is a sizable and expanding research literature on the subject, the research is spread in a variety of disciplines. Until now there has been no systematic integration of that literature into a single book. The Psychology of Humor reviews the literature, integrating disperse findings from across subdisciplines in psychology, as well as related fields such as anthropology, biology, computer science, linguistics, and sociology. The book begins by defining humor, followed by a discussion of theories of humor, and then begins analyzing research findings from the various subdisciplines in psychology. Coverage includes the cognitive processes involved in humor, as well as the effects of humor on cognition, the neurobiology of humor, the social functions of humor, individual differences in personality and humor, the development of humor understanding and use over the lifespan, the association of humor with both physical and mental health, and applications of humor use in psychotherapy, education, and the workplace.

About the Author
Rod A. Martin has been a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Western Ontario since 1984. Much of his research has focused on the role of humor in mental and physical health, and he has published more than 40 journal articles and book chapters in this area. He is currently president of the International Society for Humor Studies and is on the editorial board of the society's journal. His research has been featured in numerous national and international newspaper and magazine articles and radio and television programs.

Customer Reviews

important topic, great book
Although there are probably several reasons for the shortage of psychological research concerning humor, one such reason no doubt involves the fact the past research tended to consider humor to be a one-dimensional characteristic. On the other hand, Martin argues that there are four distinct types of humor to consider: Affiliative (positive, facilitates relationships); Self-enhancing (positive, using humor to cope); Aggressive (criticize or manipulate others); and Self-defeating (self-disparaging). The distinction seems to me a distinct and significant step forward in humor research, and studies using Martin's resultant Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) are already bearing this out. I can honestly say that his book made me think about how I use humor, and as a result influenced both my teaching and my social interactions.
In addition, among a variety of related topics Martin covers the history of humor research, major theories, the development of humor, and correlates of the use of humor (physical and mental health, use in education, etc.). I was very impressed with this book (and I've obsessively read roughly one hundred books in the past year related to positive psychology), and have been recommending Martin to anyone who is interested in humor and who will listen.

Exhilarating academic work
The book is indispensable for those who take interest in humor research especially from a psychological perspective. In a very comprehensive way it disusses different apsects of humor and humor theories.