PREFERENCES FOR SICK VERSUS NONSICK HUMOR

This study explored similarities and differences between sick and nons ick humor. A set of 28 sick and 27 nonsick jokes were rated for one of four joke properties or for preference by a combined sample of 241 un dergraduate students. In addition, several personal characteristics we re assessed via questionnaire. Sick jokes and nonsick nontendentious j okes were rated equally lower in preference than nonsick tendentious j okes. None of the joke properties assessed could fully account for the se category differences in preference. Among joke properties, fit (bet ween the punch line and the situation preceding it) and surprise were positively related to preference and cruelty predicted preference via an inverted-U relationship. Among personal characteristics, sense of h umor was positively correlated with preference for sick and tendentiou s jokes but not for nontendentious jokes. Preference was related to em otional responsiveness via an inverted-U curve regardless of joke cate gory. Males rated sick and tendentious jokes higher in preference than did females, but the genders did not differ in preference for nontend entious jokes.