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Sex differences in preferences for humor: a replication, modification, and extension.

Liana S E Hone1, William Hurwitz1, Debra Lieberman1

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Men prefer women receptive to humor, while women prefer men who produce humor. These sex differences in mate preferences for humor are robust and suggest evolutionary influences on mate selection.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Human mating behavior
  • Social psychology

Background:

  • Humor is proposed as a sexually selected trait in men, signaling mate quality.
  • Previous research indicates women prefer humorous men and men prefer receptive women.
  • The robustness of these sex differences in humor preference requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate and validate sex differences in preferences for humor receptivity versus production.
  • To examine whether these preferences hold with improved conceptual validity.
  • To investigate potential trade-offs in mate selection related to humor.

Main Methods:

  • Replication of Bressler, Martin, and Balshine (2006) study on humor preferences.
  • Modification of the original questionnaire for enhanced conceptual validity.
  • Utilized a separate measure to assess trade-offs in ideal partner selection.

Main Results:

  • Replicated findings that men prefer humor-receptive women and women prefer humor-producing men.
  • Confirmed these preferences even with a conceptually refined questionnaire.
  • Men prioritized humor receptivity as essential, humor production as a luxury in long-term partners; women showed the reverse.

Conclusions:

  • Sex differences in humor preferences are robust and likely shaped by sexual selection.
  • Mate preferences for humor reflect distinct evolutionary strategies for men and women.
  • The concept of "sense of humor" in mate selection is context-dependent and sex-specific.