Beyond Laughter: How Culture Shapes the Meaning and Preference of Humor
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Published online on January 02, 2026
Abstract
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Ahead of Print.
Across five studies, we reveal consistent cultural differences in how humor is perceived, created and appreciated: compared to Americans, Chinese individuals were more likely to produce, appreciate, and associate humor with more profound meaning. Study 1 (...
Across five studies, we reveal consistent cultural differences in how humor is perceived, created and appreciated: compared to Americans, Chinese individuals were more likely to produce, appreciate, and associate humor with more profound meaning. Study 1 (...