Humor production in long-term romantic relationships: What the lack of moderation by sex reveals about humor’s role in mating

Humor production in long-term romantic relationships: What the lack of moderation by sex reveals about humor’s role in mating. Jeffrey A. Hall. International Journal of Humor Research, May 15 2019. https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2018-0005

Abstract: This manuscript explores whether the associations between partner humor production and relationship satisfaction and humor’s importance in romantic relationships are moderated by sex. Study 1 reports a meta-analysis (k = 10; N = 2,167) of the association between partner humor production (i.e., perceived; partner effects) and relationship satisfaction, and whether associations were moderated by participant sex. Contrary to predictions, partner humor production was more strongly associated to men’s relationship satisfaction than women’s satisfaction. Study 2 surveyed pairs of romantic partners (N = 246) regarding their production of humor, their appreciation of partner humor, and the importance of humor in their relationship. Results indicated no moderations by sex in the association between partner humor production and humor’s importance in the relationship.

Keywords: humor; meta-analysis; relationship satisfaction; romantic relationship

1 Introduction

When seeking a new romantic partner, individuals often seek a mate with a good sense of humor while advertising their own sense of humor (Wilbur and Campbell 2011). In initial interactions between cross-sex strangers, couples that laugh together are more likely to report mutual romantic interest (Grammer and Eibl-Eibesfeldt 1990; Hall 2015). As in many courtship contexts, sex differences in partner preferences and behaviors complicate this general preference for humorous mates. Specifically, humor production in men is typically evaluated more positively by women, compared to the desirability of humor production in women as evaluated by men (Bressler et al. 2006; Lundy et al. 1998; Wilbur and Campbell 2011).

To explain this sex difference, researchers have turned to sexual strategies theory (SST; Buss and Schmitt 1993). The theory suggests that males and females should find different traits more appealing when seeking a short-term mate (e.g., a one-night stand) versus a long-term mate (e.g., marriage). If humor production during courtship is a way to assess the likelihood of long-term cooperation and compatibility, then women ought to favor humor more highly in potential long-term partners than in short-term partners – a tendency supported by past research (e.g., Bressler et al. 2006; Hone et al. 2015; Tornquist and Chiappe 2015). Thus, humor production has been conceptualized a reliable signal of long-term compatibility and enhanced likelihood of relationship success.

This multi-study investigation attempts to answer the question, are sex differences in the value placed on partner humor production when evaluating potential partners comparable to sex differences in the benefits conferred by humor in actual long-term romantic relationships? Specifically, the present investigation will attempt to answer three research questions: (i) Do women, more so than men, experience greater relationship satisfaction when their partners engage in more humor production? (ii) Do women, more so than men, perceive humor as more importance to the relationship when they have partners who produce more humor? (iii) Is the production-importance association mediated by appreciation of one’s partner’s sense of humor? By examining whether the benefits of partner humor production in heterosexual romantic relationship are moderated by sex, the present manuscript will contribute to both research on mate selection and research on the role of humor in long-term relationships.

3 Sexual strategies theory: Humor and long-term versus short-term mating

Sexual strategies theory (Buss and Schmitt 1993) suggests that males and females should find different traits more appealing when seeking a short-term mate (e.g., a one-night stand) versus a long-term mate (e.g., marriage). When seeking short-term mates, women are thought to prefer traits indicative of high quality genes in men, but when seeking long-term mates, women are thought to prefer traits indicative of good parenting and long-term mating success. Tornquist and Chiappe (2015) suggest that humor production during courtship is a way to assess the likelihood of long-term cooperation and compatibility. In finding someone who shares that sense of humor, many joint endeavors involved in long-term relationships and parenting may be more pleasant and cooperative. Several studies have made the distinction between short- and long-term relationships when evaluating humor production in courtship. Bressler et al. (2006) found that women preferred humor production in men in long-term relationships compared to short-term ones. Hone et al. (2015) report the sex difference in preference for a humor-producing partner favoring women was greater in long-term and committed dating conditions compared to short-term mating conditions. Similarly, Tornquist and Chiappe (2015) found that when seeking a long-term relationship, women more favorably rated humor production in men than did men in women. For short-term relationships, sex differences in preferences were not detected (Tornquist and Chiappe 2015). In sum, women favor humor production in men particularly when seeking a long-term partnership, particularly when the humor is warm and positive (Didonato et al. 2013). As predicted by SST, women should value warmth, cooperation, and social facility in men, particularly in the context of long-term pairing, because such traits would engender a more satisfying relationship. This leads to the question, is humor production associated with such benefits in long-term relationships?