Date of Award

6-2003

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Dr. Tom Ford

Second Advisor

Dr. Paul Wienir

Third Advisor

Dr. Susan Carlson

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The present research develops and empirically tests a theoretical model of ingroup disparaging humor. In an experiment, one hundred and seventy-five undergraduates were exposed to a comedy routine that disparaged an in- group, an outgroup, or did not contain disparaging content. Subjects then completed measures of amusement and social identity. Results suggest that in-group disparaging humor can simultaneously elicit amusement and threaten social identity. The implications of these results for understanding the effects of in-group disparaging humor on amusement and social identity are discussed.

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