TELLING JOKES THAT DISPARAGE SOCIAL-GROUPS - EFFECTS ON THE JOKE TELLERS STEREOTYPES

An experiment tested whether or not reciting disparaging humor about a disadvantaged group affects joke tellers' stereotypes of the group. I n this experiment, we manipulated whether participants recited humor t hat disparaged Newfoundlanders, who are a relatively disadvantaged gro up in Canada, or nondisparaging humor. We then asked participants to c omplete a measure of their stereotypes and attitudes toward Newfoundla nders. Results indicated that participants who recited disparaging hum or subsequently reported more negative stereotypes of Newfoundlanders than did participants who recited nondisparaging humor. Attitudes towa rd Newfoundlanders were not affected by the manipulation. Practical an d theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.