The relationship among gender, attitudes toward men, and the appreciation of male disparaging sexist humor

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to clarify the relationships among gender, attitudes toward men, and male and female preferences for different types of male disparaging sexist humor. Additionally, this study hoped to provide support for Zillman's dispositional theory of humor, as well as for the idea that humor preferences may serve as subtle communicators of attitudes. Furthermore, several variables believed to confound previous research findings were accounted for. Undergraduate students (N = 162) completed the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale, Attitudes Toward Men Scale, and rated the funniness of sexual sexist, non-sexual sexist, and neutral cartoons. As predicted, females found the non-sexual sexist cartoons funnier than males, however, contrary to expectations, sexual sexist cartoon ratings did not differ among genders. In relation to other types of humor, male ratings revealed, and female ratings showed a trend toward revealing a preference for neutral cartoons over both types of male disparaging sexist humor. In addition, Zillman's disposition theory failed to predict humor preferences for both genders, and female funniness ratings were not found to be related to attitudes toward men. Results were interpreted in relation to previous research, problems encountered by the study were discussed, and suggestions for future research in the area were offered.

Notes

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Graduation Date

1995

Semester

Fall

Advisor

McGuire, John M.

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Clinical Psychology

Format

Print

Pages

83 p.

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Identifier

DP0022765

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic; Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences

Accessibility Status

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