The effects of sense of humor, defensiveness, and gender on the interpretation of ambiguous messages

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1999

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of sense of humor, defensiveness, and gender on the interpretation of ambiguous messages directed toward the self. In two studies, respondents completed questionnaires featuring written scenarios to test for perceptions of messages as humorous or critical. Sense of humor was related to the humorous interpretations of the messages, whereas defensiveness did. not have a significant effect on the defensive interpretations. In Study 1, females interpreted messages regarding mental and physical errors in a more humorous manner, and males interpreted them more defensively. In Study 2, females and males interpreted messages regarding appearance similarly, but females interpreted a message regarding weight more defensively. © 1999, Taylor and Francis Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Communication Quarterly

First Page

80

Last Page

97

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS