Humor and Attachment: Exploring the Relationships between Insecure Attachment and the Comic Styles
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Humor and Attachment
1.2. Aim of the Study
- Anxious attachment showed negative correlations with affiliative humor, whose purpose is to strengthen ties between individuals. Therefore, we expect negative trends with benevolent humor. Moreover, wit reflects the ability to create clever connections between ideas and thoughts, but anxious individuals may be ashamed, so we also expected a negative relationship.
- 2.
- Avoidant attachment would indicate a negative association with both light and dark style, namely nonsense and sarcasm. We expect these relationships as these comic styles may safely express one’s emotionality without directly being exposed. Again, we expect no relationship with fun, as avoidant individuals inhibit their emotions and distance others. Other relationships will be tested exploratively.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants
2.2. Measures
2.3. Procedure
2.4. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Intercollations among the Eight Comic Styles
3.2. Relationship between Demographics, Humor, and Attachment
3.3. Associations between the Comic Styles and Attachment
4. Discussion
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P.R. Attachment theory as a framework for studying relationship dynamics and functioning. In The Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships; Vangelisti, A.L., Perlman, D., Eds.; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2018; pp. 175–185. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bowlby, J. Attachment and loss: Retrospect and prospect. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 1982, 52, 664–678. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bowlby, J. Attachment and Loss: Volume II: Separation, Anxiety and Anger; The Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis: London, UK, 1973; pp. 1–429. [Google Scholar]
- Fraley, R.C.; Shaver, P.R. Adult Romantic Attachment: Theoretical Developments, Emerging Controversies, and Unanswered Questions. Rev. Gen. Psychol. 2000, 4, 132–154. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bartholomew, K.; Horowitz, L.M. Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1991, 61, 226–244. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Grossmann, K.E.; Grossmann, K.; Zimmermann, P. A wider view of attachment and exploration: Stability and change during the years of immaturity. In Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications; Cassidy, J., Shaver, P.R., Eds.; The Guilford Press: New York, NY, USA, 1999; pp. 760–786. [Google Scholar]
- Main, M.; Solomon, J. Procedures for identifying infants as disorganized/disoriented during the Ainsworth Strange Situation. In Attachment in the Preschool Years: Theory, Research, and Intervention, 1st ed.; Greenberg, M.T., Cicchetti, D., Cummings, E.M., Eds.; The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, USA; London, UK, 1990; pp. 121–160. [Google Scholar]
- Mikulincer, M.; Florian, V. The relationship between adult attachment styles and emotional and cognitive reactions to stressful events. In Attachment Theory and Close Relationships; Simpson, J.A., Rholes, W.S., Eds.; Guilford: New York, NY, USA, 1998; pp. 143–165. [Google Scholar]
- Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P.R. An attachment perspective on psychopathology. World Psychiatry 2012, 11, 11–15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Howland, M.; Simpson, J.A. Attachment orientations and reactivity to humor in a social support context. J. Soc. Pers. Relatsh. 2013, 31, 114–137. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Feeney, J.; Fitzgerald, J. Attachment, conflict and relationship quality: Laboratory-based and clinical insights. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 2019, 25, 127–131. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Simpson, J.A.; Rholes, W.S. Adult attachment orientations and well-being during the transition to parenthood. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 2019, 25, 47–52. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Luevano, V.X.; Pablo, J.N.; Velazquez, M.L.; Chance, B.; Ramirez, B. Attachment as a predictor of attraction to humor styles. Pers. Individ. Differ. 2021, 173, 110634. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Martin, R.A.; Ford, T. The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach; Academic Press: London, UK, 2018; ISBN 978-0-12-812143-6. [Google Scholar]
- Dozois, D.J.A.; Martin, R.A.; Bieling, P.J. Early Maladaptive Schemas and Adaptive/Maladaptive Styles of Humor. Cogn. Ther. Res. 2009, 33, 585–596. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Poncy, G.W. Maladaptive Humor Styles as Mediators of the Relationship between Attachment Insecurity and Emotion Regulation. Humor 2017, 30, 147–168. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kazarian, S.S.; Martin, R.A. Humour styles, personality, and well-being among Lebanese university students. Eur. J. Pers. 2004, 18, 209–219. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Taher, D.; Kazarian, S.S.; Martin, R.A. Validation of the Arabic Humor Styles Questionnaire in a Community Sample of Lebanese in Lebanon. J. Cross-Cult. Psychol. 2008, 39, 552–564. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Cann, A.; Norman, M.A.; Welbourne, J.L.; Calhoun, L.G. Attachment styles, conflict styles and humour styles: Interrelationships and associations with relationship satisfaction. Eur. J. Pers. 2008, 22, 131–146. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Saroglou, V.; Scariot, C. Humor Styles Questionnaire: Personality and educational correlates in Belgian high school and college students. Eur. J. Pers. 2002, 16, 43–54. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sar-El, D.; Mikulincer, M.; Doron, G. Attachment Orientations and Individual Differences in Humor. J. Soc. Clin. Psychol. 2013, 32, 34–53. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Miczo, N.; Averbeck, J.M.; Mariani, T. Affiliative and Aggressive Humor, Attachment Dimensions, and Interaction Goals. Commun. Stud. 2009, 60, 443–459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ford, T.E.; Lappi, S.K.; O’Connor, E.C.; Banos, N.C. Manipulating humor styles: Engaging in self-enhancing humor reduces state anxiety. Humor 2017, 30, 169–191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Leist, A.K.; Müller, D. Humor Types Show Different Patterns of Self-Regulation, Self-Esteem, and Well-Being. J. Happiness Stud. 2012, 14, 551–569. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Besser, A.; Luyten, P.; Mayes, L.C. Adult attachment and distress: The mediating role of humor styles. Individ. Differ. Res. 2012, 10, 153–164. [Google Scholar]
- Heintz, S. Locating eight comic styles in basic and broad concepts of humor: Findings from self-reports and behavior tests. Curr. Psychol. 2019, 1–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ruch, W.; Heintz, S.; Platt, T.; Wagner, L.; Proyer, R. Broadening Humor: Comic Styles Differentially Tap into Temperament, Character, and Ability. Front. Psychol. 2018, 9, 6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Heintz, S.; Ruch, W. From four to nine styles: An update on individual differences in humor. Pers. Individ. Differ. 2019, 141, 7–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ruch, W.; Heintz, S. The German version of the Humor Styles Questionnaire: Psychometric properties and overlap with other styles of humor. Eur. J. Psychol. 2016, 12, 434–455. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Saroglou, V.; Lacour, C.; Demeure, M.-E. Bad Humor, Bad Marriage: Humor Styles in Divorced and Married Couples. Eur. J. Psychol. 2010, 6, 94–121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dionigi, A.; Duradoni, M.; Vagnoli, L. Humor and personality: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the comic styles markers and its relationships with the big five personality traits. Curr. Psychol. 2021, 41, 8705–8717. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wei, M.; Russell, D.W.; Mallinckrodt, B.; Vogel, D.L. The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR)-Short Form: Reliability, Validity, and Factor Structure. J. Pers. Assess. 2007, 88, 187–204. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Faul, F.; Erdfelder, E.; Lang, A.-G.; Buchner, A. G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav. Res. Methods 2007, 39, 175–191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Faul, F.; Erdfelder, E.; Buchner, A.; Lang, A.-G. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behav. Res. Methods 2009, 41, 1149–1160. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Hall, J.A. Humor in Long-Term Romantic Relationships: The Association of General Humor Styles and Relationship-Specific Functions with Relationship Satisfaction. West. J. Commun. 2013, 77, 272–292. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Candel, O.-S.; Turliuc, M.N. Insecure attachment and relationship satisfaction: A meta-analysis of actor and partner associations. Pers. Individ. Differ. 2019, 147, 190–199. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kafetsios, K.; Nezlek, J.B. Attachment styles in everyday social interaction. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol. 2002, 32, 719–735. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dionigi, A.; Duradoni, M.; Vagnoli, L. Humor and the dark triad: Relationships among narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and comic styles. Pers. Individ. Differ. 2022, 197, 111766. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Noftle, E.E.; Shaver, P.R. Attachment dimensions and the big five personality traits: Associations and comparative ability to predict relationship quality. J. Res. Pers. 2006, 40, 179–208. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shaver, P.R.; Brennan, K.A. Attachment Styles and the “Big Five” Personality Traits: Their Connections with Each Other and with Romantic Relationship Outcomes. Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 1992, 18, 536–545. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Torres-Marín, J.; Navarro-Carrillo, G.; Carretero-Dios, H. Differentiating the traits of the Dark Tetrad in their linkages with humor styles, dispositions toward ridicule and laughter, and comic styles. Pers. Individ. Differ. 2022, 185, 111281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P.R.; Pereg, D. Attachment Theory and Affect Regulation: The Dynamics, Development, and Cognitive Consequences of Attachment-Related Strategies. Motiv. Emot. 2003, 27, 77–102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Winterheld, H.A.; Simpson, J.A. Personality in close relationships. In The Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships; Vangelisti, A.L., Perlman, D., Eds.; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2018; pp. 163–174. [Google Scholar]
- Ruch, W.; McGhee, P.E.; Hehl, F.-J. Age differences in the enjoyment of incongruity-resolution and nonsense humor during adulthood. Psychol. Aging 1990, 5, 348–355. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P.R. Attachment orientations and emotion regulation. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 2019, 25, 6–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Fun | Humor | Nonsense | Wit | Irony | Satire | Sarcasm | Cynicism | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fun | 1 | |||||||
Humor | 0.37 *** | 1 | ||||||
Nonsense | 0.42 *** | 0.44 *** | 1 | |||||
Wit | 0.44 *** | 0.60 *** | 0.27 *** | 1 | ||||
Irony | 0.45 *** | 0.38 *** | 0.37 *** | 0.54 *** | 1 | |||
Satire | 0.45 *** | 0.56 *** | 0.40 *** | 0.58 *** | 0.58 *** | 1 | ||
Sarcasm | 0.42 *** | 0.31 *** | 0.29 *** | 0.47 *** | 0.61 *** | 0.60 *** | 1 | |
Cynicism | 0.31 *** | 0.22 *** | 0.35 *** | 0.33 *** | 0.53 *** | 0.58 *** | 0.63 *** | 1 |
Fun | Humor | Nonsense | Wit | Irony | Satire | Sarcasm | Cynicism | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECR_Anxiety | 0.11 ** | −0.07 | −0.01 | −0.02 | 0.14 *** | 0.05 | 0.11 ** | 0.10 ** |
ECR_Avoidance | 0.02 | −0.02 | 0.12 ** | 0.01 | 0.11 ** | 0.06 | 0.13 *** | 0.14 *** |
Fun | Humor | Nonsense | Wit | Irony | Satire | Sarcasm | Cynicism | Δ R2 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECR_Anxiety | 0.09 | −0.12 * | −0.03 | −0.11 * | 0.14 * | 0.07 | 0.02 | −0.01 | 0.04 *** |
ECR_Avoidance | −0.04 | −0.08 | 0.10 * | −0.05 | 0.08 | −0.07 | 0.11 * | 0.09 | 0.04 *** |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Dionigi, A.; Duradoni, M.; Vagnoli, L. Humor and Attachment: Exploring the Relationships between Insecure Attachment and the Comic Styles. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 161-169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13010012
Dionigi A, Duradoni M, Vagnoli L. Humor and Attachment: Exploring the Relationships between Insecure Attachment and the Comic Styles. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education. 2023; 13(1):161-169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13010012
Chicago/Turabian StyleDionigi, Alberto, Mirko Duradoni, and Laura Vagnoli. 2023. "Humor and Attachment: Exploring the Relationships between Insecure Attachment and the Comic Styles" European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 13, no. 1: 161-169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13010012