Correlations between Humor Styles and Loneliness Purpose of

Correlations between Humor Styles and Loneliness

• Purpose of study was to investigate association between loneliness and different types of humor – but no real statement about why it was necessary to investigate the association

Research questions or Hypotheses: 1. Lonely inverse with Affl H 2. Lonely = SD Humor 3. Lonely inversely related to s SE Humor 4. Lonely and aggression not associated

• • Shy = Lonely Shy or Lonely = poor social skills Shy or Lonely = low self-esteem Shy or Lonely = poor interpersonal skills Shy inverse with Affiliation Humor (Affl H) Affl H associated with extraversion Affl H associated with intimacy Hypothesis 1: Therefore, Hypothesized that: Lonely inverse with Affl H

• Self-defeating humor = low self-esteem • Lonely = low self-esteem (previous slide) Hypothesis 2 Therefore, hypothesized that: Lonely = SD Humor

• Self-enhancing (SE) Humor = high self-esteem • SE humor = intimacy • SE humor = social support • Lonely = low self-esteem Hypothesis 3 Therefore, Hypothesized that: Lonely inversely related to s SE Humor

• Shy and aggression not associated • Shy = Lonely Hypothesis 4 Therefore, hypothesized that Lonely and aggression not associated

• Procedure: described in the methodology section • 106 cc students (34 M, 72 W) • Lonely measured by UCLA Loneliness Scale • Types of humor measured by Humor Styles Questionnaire

Results 1. Yes, Lonely was inverse with Affl H (r=-. 47) 2. Yes, Lonely was = SD Humor (r=. 32) 3. Yes, Lonely was inversely related to s SE Humor (r=-. 39) 4. Yes, Lonely and aggression were not associated (r= -. 04)

• Conclusions • Given that other research has indicated that shyness precedes loneliness, it may be that shy people haven’t used humor in social situations to be more successful in those situations. The correlations were not evidence of casual relationships.