Patrick GarridoEnglish 2367.02Annotated BibliographyTopic: The Importance of Inclusivity in Humor

Jovanovic, Veljko. "Do Humor Styles Matter In the Relationship Between Personality and Subjective Well-being?"Scandinavian Journal of Psychology52.5 (2011): 502-07. Print.An article which examines the role of humor styles in life satisfaction and well-being and personality. An experiment undertaken shows that self-enhancing humor has a correlation with satisfaction with life. Affilative humor is shown to also be correlated to neuroticism and well-being. Individuals with a lower life satisfaction trended towards self-defeating humor and neuroticism. A decrease in the use of affiliative humor could be proven as detrimental.The article provides an interesting counterpoint to the idea that self-depreciation as a form of humor can be positive. It brings into question the veracity of the self-depreciation in the comedians work. Is it a tool in order to relate to the audience or is an honest expression of sorrow. Is self-depreciating humor unhealthy? Is it effective as a tool of inclusion?

Esralew, Sarah E.Beating Others to the Punch: Exploring the Influence of Self-Depreciating Humor on Source Perceptions Through Expectancy Violations Theory. Thesis. Ohio State University, 2012. Wordcat. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.A thesis which examines the use of inclusive, self-depreciating humor in politics. The study particularly focuses on this use of humor in regards to the Expectancy Violations Theory (Burgoon, 1978). A study conducted concluded that self-depreciations use by candidates fostered a greater sense of similarity for prospective voters. Interestingly, the author notes that this correlation was rather weak. Provides another interesting perspective on the use of inclusive humor.The political field is another interesting use of inclusivity in humor. Is its use really that effective, both politically and in general? Is self-depreciation an outdated form of inclusion? Further indicates the widespread use of self-depreciation, which implies its credibility. Relates back to the theory of incongruity.

Didonato, Theresa E., Mellisha C. Bedminster, and Jonna J. Machel. "My Funny Valentine: How Humor Styles Affect Romantic Interest."Personal Relationships20.2 (2013): 374-90. Web. 18 Oct. 2013An article discussing the importance of humor style (affliative or aggressive) in relationships. A test undertaken indicates that afflitive, inclusive humor tended to garner more interest than aggressive humor. Stresses the importance of inclusive humor for longer relationships, as compared to casual encounters. Brings an interesting question as to what counts as inclusive or afflitive humor. Suggests a negative response to aggressive or exclusive humor.Inclusive humor plays a major role even in basic human relationships. Is it always received better than aggressive humor? To what degree is inclusive humor more popular? Does inclusivity in humor come subconsciously or is it a marked choice? This article further underscores the use of inclusivity in humor, and suggests that it can be a key factor in human relationships. This begs to question, is all good humor inclusive?

Gruner, Charles R.The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 1997. Print. 20 Oct. 2013.Discusses the Superiority Theory of humor postulated by Thomas Hobbes. Underscores the use of negativity throughout comedy. Further establishes the idea of a joke having a victim or loser of some sort. Builds upon and quantifies the theory, stating that most humor is not very benign. Creates a clear distinction between humor as good-natured play and humor as a tool to exclude. Implies that humor is not entirely innocuous. This book establishes another important counterpoint to the idea that inclusivity in humor is important. It addresses the idea that there is always a form of victim, whether it be a person in the joke or the audience themselves. However, the idea of a group of people sharing in this exclusivity is an important idea to consider. Are we inclusive in our superiority? Or are we only inclusive of those we consider in on the joke?