Universität zu Köln

Topolinski, Sascha ORCID: 0000-0001-9295-3463 (2014). A processing fluency-account of funniness: Running gags and spoiling punchlines. Cogn. Emot., 28 (5). S. 811 - 821. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. ISSN 1464-0600

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Abstract

Earlier theories on humour assume that funniness stems from the incongruity resolution of the surprising punchline and thus an insight into the joke's meaning. Applying recent psychological theorising that insight itself draws on processing fluency being the ease and speed with which mental content is processed, it is predicted that increasing the fluency of processing the punchline of a joke increases funniness. In Experiments 1 and 2, significant nouns from the punchlines or from the beginnings of jokes were presented before a joke was rated in funniness. Pre-exposing punchline words 15 minutes and even only 1 minute before the eventual joke led to increased funniness ratings. In contrast, pre-exposing punchline words directly before a joke led to decreased funniness ratings. Furthermore, pre-exposing the beginning of a joke 1 minute before the joke had no effects on funniness. Experiment 3 ruled out exposure-facilitated punchline anticipation as alternative mechanism, and Experiment 4 replicated this fluency effect with typing font as manipulation. These findings also show that pre-exposing a punchline, which in common knowledge should spoil a joke, can actually increase funniness under certain conditions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Topolinski, Sascha UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-9295-3463 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-434060
DOI:	10.1080/02699931.2013.863180
Journal or Publication Title:	Cogn. Emot.
Volume:	28
Number:	5
Page Range:	S. 811 - 821
Date:	2014
Publisher:	ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Place of Publication:	ABINGDON
ISSN:	1464-0600
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language DISCREPANCY-ATTRIBUTION HYPOTHESIS; AUTOMATIC SPREADING ACTIVATION; PHASIC AFFECTIVE MODULATION; INTUITION; REPETITION; PREFERENCE; JUDGMENTS; COHERENCE; FEELINGS; MEMORY Multiple languages Psychology, Experimental Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/43406