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Cues and Clues: How Humor Targets Classify Joker Intent
Jared P Wilson1, Randy J McCarthy1
1Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA.
Psychological Reports
|September 4, 2025
Summary
Off-record markers like winks signal prosocial teasing, reducing perceptions of aggression. These cues help targets interpret humor as affiliative rather than demeaning.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
- Linguistics (Pragmatics)
Background:
- Humorous provocations can be either prosocial (teasing) or aggressive (jokes).
- Interpreting the intent behind humor requires evaluating contextual cues.
- Off-record markers and joker reputation are key factors in joke interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate how off-record markers influence attributions about jokes.
- To examine the impact of marker ambiguity and joker reputation on perceived intent.
- To understand how targets differentiate between affiliative teasing and aggressive jokes.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving participants role-playing as joke targets.
- Study 1: Assessed perceptions of bosses' jokes with or without off-record markers (wink, laugh).
- Study 2: Examined effects of ambiguous vs. unambiguous markers and joker reputation.
Main Results:
- Off-record markers significantly reduced perceived aggression and increased perceived affiliation.
- Unambiguous markers (e.g., a reassuring wink) were more effective than ambiguous ones (e.g., a laugh).
- Joker reputation and its interaction with marker ambiguity did not significantly affect perceptions.
Conclusions:
- Off-record markers play a crucial role in signaling prosocial teasing intentions.
- Clear, unambiguous markers are vital for effectively conveying affiliative humor.
- Findings highlight the importance of pragmatic cues in social communication and perception.
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