Research Article

Humor as an ice breaker in marital tension: A family communication perspective

William Kodom Gyasi 1 *
More Detail
1 Department of Communication Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GHANA* Corresponding Author
Mediterranean Journal of Social & Behavioral Research, 7(2), June 2023, 103-111, https://doi.org/10.30935/mjosbr/13076
Submitted: 31 August 2022, Published Online: 14 March 2023, Published: 01 May 2023
OPEN ACCESS   873 Views   1341 Downloads
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Humor is a communicative tool employed by a person to amuse others. Numerous research have been conducted on how humor is used in deflating tension in romantic relationships, but little to no research has been done on the study in the Ghanaian context. Using relief theory of humor, the researcher studied 20 married couples (10 males and 10 females) within and around the Univesity of Cape Coast: 10 males and 10 females respectively were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Based on the data analyzed, the researcher identified that humor function aids in the expression of a message that will otherwise be difficult to convey. This suggestion affirms that despite the presence of tension in marriage, humor always helps in calming nerves by reducing the tension.
Keywords: humor, marriage, married people, tension

CITATION (APA)

Gyasi, W. K. (2023). Humor as an ice breaker in marital tension: A family communication perspective. Mediterranean Journal of Social & Behavioral Research, 7(2), 103-111. https://doi.org/10.30935/mjosbr/13076

REFERENCES

  1. Abdolghader, A., Fatemeh, H. N., Mohammad, R. A., Abbas, E., & Mojtaba, V. (2018). Directed qualitative content analysis: The description and elaborate of its underpinning methods and data analysis process. Journal of Research in Nursing, 23(1), 42-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987117741667
  2. Barelds, P. H. D., & Barelds-Dijkstra, P. (2010). Humor in intimate relationship: Ties among sense of humor, similarity in humor and relationship quality. Journal of Humor Research, 23(4), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1515/humr.2010.021
  3. Bressler, E. R., Martin, R. A., & Balshine, S. (2005). Production and appreciation of humor as sexually selected traits. Evolution and Human Behavior, 27(2), 121-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2005.09.001
  4. Butzer, B., & Kuiper, N. A. (2008). Humor use in romantic relationships: The effects of relationship satisfaction and pleasant versus conflict situations. The Journal of Psychology, 142(3), 245-260. https://doi.org/10.3200/JRLP.142.3.245-260
  5. Campbell, L., Martin, R. A., & Ward, J. R. (2008). An observational study of humor use while resolving conflict in dating couples. Personal Relationships, 15(1), 41-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00183.x
  6. Davidson, L., Fossey, E., Harvey, C., & Madermott, F. (2002). Understanding and evaluating qualitative research. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36(6), 1440-1614. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1614.2002.01100.x
  7. Friedman, H. H., & Friedman, L. W. (2019). Laughing matters: When humor is meaningful. Journal of Intercultural Management and Ethics, 23(4), 55-72. https://doi.org/10.35478/jime.2019.4.06
  8. Groenewald, T. (2004). A phenomenological research design illustrated. International Journal Qualitative Methods, 3(1), 42-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690400300104
  9. Hall, J. A. (2013). Humor in long-term romantic relationships: The association of general humor styles and relationship-specific functions with relationship satisfaction. Western Journal of Communication, 77(3), 272-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2012.757796
  10. Hall, J. A. (2017). Humor in romantic relationships: A meta analysis. Personal Relationships, 24(2), 306-322. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12183
  11. Hall, J. A. (2019). Humor production in long-term romantic relationships: What the lack of moderation by sex reveals about humor’s role in mating. Personal Relationship, 32(3), 343-359. https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2018-0005
  12. Hall, J. A., & Sereno, K. (2010). Offensive jokes: how do they impact long-term relationship? International Journal of Humor Research, 23(3), 351-373. https://doi.org/10.1515/humr.2010.016
  13. Holloway, I. (2005). Qualitative writing. Qualitative Research in Health Care, 5(4), 270-286.
  14. Kucharski, A., & Rutkowska, E. (2019). Humor styles and communication in relationship, socialization & human development. International Scientific Journal, 4(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.37096/SHDISJ-19-1.1-0002
  15. Liang, C. (2014). Humor style and intimate relationship events [Undergraduate honors thesis, Western University].
  16. Martin, R. A., Puhlik-Doris, P., Larsen, G., Gray, J., & Weir, K. (2003). Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the humor styles questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 37(1), 48-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00534-2
  17. Meyer, J. C. (2000). Humor as a double-edged sword: Four functions of humor in communication. Communication Theory, 10(3), 310-331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2000.tb00194.x
  18. Miczo, N., & Averbeck, J. M. (2020). Perceived partner humor use and relationship satisfaction in romantic pairs: The mediating role of relational uncertainty. Humor, 33(4), 513-534. https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2019-0097
  19. Mulder, M. P., & Nijholt, A. (2002). Humor research: State of the art. Parlevink Research Group.
  20. Saroglou, V., Lacour, C., & Demeure, M. E. (2010). Bad humor, bad marriage: Humor styles in divorced and married couples. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 6(3), 94-121. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v6i3.210
  21. Satici, B., & Deniz, M. E. (2020). Relational humor and marital satisfaction in married individuals. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 7(2), 72-78. https://doi.org/10.17220/ijpes.2020.02.006
  22. Seale, C. (1999). Quality in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 5(4), 115-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/107780049900500402
  23. Turner, D. W. (2010). Qualitative interview design: A practical guide for novice investigators. Qualitative Research, 15(3), 754-760.
  24. Warren, C., & McGraw, A. P. (2016). Differentiating what is humorous from what is not. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110(3), 407-430. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000041
  25. Weisfeld, G. E., Nowak, N. T., Lucas, T., Weisfeld, C. C., Imamoglu, E. O., Butovskaya, M., & Parkhill, M. R. (2011). Do women seek humorousness in men because it signals intelligence? A cross-cultural test. International Journal of Humor, 24(4) 435-462. https://doi.org/10.1515/humr.2011.025
  26. Winterheld, H. A., Simpson, A. J., & Orina, M. M. (2013). It’s in the way that you use it: Attachment and dyadic nature of humor during conflict negotiation in romantic couples. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(4) 496-508. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213479133