The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach
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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. This book has been nominated for the 2007 AATH Book Award for Humor/Laughter Research category!It provides up-to-date coverage of research on humor and laughter in every area of psychology. The research findings are integrated into a coherent conceptual framework. It includes recent brain imaging studies, evolutionary models, and animal research. It draws on contributions from sociology, linguistics, neuroscience, and anthropology. It provides an overview of theories of humor and early research. It explores applications of humor in psychotherapy, education, and the workplace. It points out interesting topics for further research and promising research methodologies. It is written in a scholarly yet easily accessible style.
From the Inside Flap
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.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
important topic, great book
23 Jun 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Great material, boring presentation
16 Nov 2010
Format:Hardcover
I used this book for a psychology of humor class - I went into the class thinking the book would be fun to read but I was sadly mistaken. The book does an awesome job reviewing the literature don't get me wrong, but it is just so dry and colorless. I have read the whole thing this semester and have had a tough time making it through any of the chapters in one sitting. It is very informative and I did learn a lot, but I just wish it was a little more fun and appealing...it is a humor book after all!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Superbly done
19 July 2009
Format:Hardcover
A splendid, thorough text by an author who has contributed stellar work to this literature. The writing is clear and accessible. I would have loved a few more diagrams and illustrations. For example, explanations of humor's impact on various biological processes would have benefited from a picture or two. The organization is intuitively appealing. The author is candid about the shortcomings of theories and research on the topic. He does not gloss over the warts in the science. By explaining some of the problems, he ends up educating readers so they can become better consumers of research. Readers will find that the topic is much richer and more complex than they may have thought. They'll also discover that much of the common knowledge that 'everyone knows' on the topic is dead wrong. I hope to teach a semester-long course with it soon. A true achievement.
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