The adaptive functions of wit and humor.

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Abstract
In a study of 332 Ss, 2 hypotheses--(a) wit and humor are appreciated more under stress than nonstress conditions and (b) the well adjusted appreciate nonsense wit more than the poorly adjusted--were not confirmed. It did appear that men appreciate hostile wit while women prefer nonsense wit. When not under stress, hostile wit is more appreciated by the maladjusted than the well adjusted men; under stress the reverse is true. The well adjusted person has a greater appreciation for humor than the maladjusted. "It is concluded that the Freudian distinction between wit and humor is a valid one, with wit possibly operating to reduce tension under differing circumstances depending upon the interaction of adjustment, stress, and sex factors." (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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