Outside Perceptions of Relational Status Based Upon the Use of Humor
This study aims to identify if an outside observer will be able to accurately predict relational pairs’ statuses based only off of nonverbal behavior displayed during a humorous encounter. It is well documented through past research that humor effectively and consistently creates relational closeness among varying degrees of relational partners. With this in mind, we suggest that it is likely that an outside observer will accurately guess what the status of each relational pair is through watching a relational pair’s nonverbal expressions toward one another while the pair tells jokes to one another. In order to study the suggested phenomenon, five relational pairs (strangers, siblings, friends, dating, and married couples) were recorded taking turns telling jokes to one another. Anonymous participants were then recruited to watch excerpts of the relational pairs telling jokes and report which relational status was most likely. The results did not ultimately support our original hypothesis.
COMM 430, Nonverbal Communication
Doyle Srader
L203, Poster 11
10 AM – Noon