The Effects of Humor in the Media: A Review of Experimental Research

Humor and media effects research have a long history together, but there have been few broad-based reviews of that research. A review of 34 experimental research studies was undertaken. Though two-thirds of the studies were guided by theory, only around 21% included a humor theory. Humor was often operationalized using traditional media content, with the humor itself being disparaging humor or satire. Using some measure of humor as a manipulation check was common. However, few studies assessed positive emotion as a response to the humor content at post-exposure. A majority of studies assessed perceived funniness of humor content. Attitudinal and affective outcomes were used frequently, and moderation was included more frequently than mediation. The discussion highlights avenues for greater integration of these research areas.