Psychology of computer use: XLII. Problem solving and humor as a function of computer anxiety

From a pool of 115 undergraduate women, 20 were placed in a Computer-anxious group and 20 in a Computer-nonanxious group based on their scores on the Computer Anxiety Scale. Half of the subjects were randomly assigned to a group to which the computer presented the problems first and half to a group to whom the computer presented the jokes first. Electromyograms from subjects' zygomatic muscles were monitored as well as palmar skin conductance. Behavioral measures were collected prior to and following the computer interaction. Although the electromyogram for zygomatic tension (smiles) was higher in the jokes condition, indicating that subjects responded to jokes as humorous, Computer-anxious subjects showed increased scores on anxiety and depression and relatively high skin conductance on the initial joke. Subjects with high computer-anxiety had less experience with computers, had lower scores on the Rosenberg Self-esteem test, and, likely not being familiar with computer humor, reacted anxiously.