Relation between Intimacy and Humor

Abstract

A number of studies have shown that humor is associated with interpersonal competence so it was hypothesized that a high level of intimacy is associated with a high level of humor. The Measures of Psychosocial Development (used to measure intimacy) and the Situational Humor Response Questionnaire were given to 103 undergraduates. The high intimacy group of 52 scored significantly higher on humor than the low intimacy group of 51. Humor apparently helps people succeed in intimate relationships because it allows them to handle the stress within those relationships. Also pursuing studies of the relationship between humor and such Eriksonian psychosocial characteristics such as identity, generativity, and integrity, seems worthy.