Understanding humor styles and well-being: The importance of social relationships and gender

Individual differences in humor styles have been identified, and these humor styles appear to be differentially related to well-being. The present study sought to replicate and extend previous findings by (1) investigating whether the differential effects of humor styles on well-being may be explained by their associations with social support, and (2) whether the weak and inconsistent relationship between aggressive humor and well-being may be due to a moderating role of gender. A total of 826 undergraduate students completed a series of online standardized questionnaires, including the Humor Styles Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-12). Mediation analyses revealed that the positive relationship between affiliative and self-enhancing humor and well-being was explained by a greater perceived availability of support. Meanwhile, the negative association between self-defeating humor and well-being was mediated by lower levels of perceived support. Moderation analyses provided preliminary support for the idea that an aggressive humor style may be related to higher levels of social support among men, and lower social support among women. Further research on the interpersonal context of humor and the role of gender in humor styles, social relationships, and well-being is warranted.     

Early indicators of personality traits viewed retrospectively

A review of early test data and school, environmental, and sociometric information on 46 Ss from the Austin Longitudinal Research Project suggests that certain indicators are useful as precursors of personal adjustment nine years later. The following seven proved to be significant: (1) Number of Koppitz's Emotional Indicators in the Human Figure Drawing, (2) Sociometric rejection by peers in first grade, (3) Father's occupational, (4) Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) Pathognomic Verbalization, (5) HIT Anxiety, (6) HIT Hostility, and (7) HIT Form Appropriateness. Strong trends in the expected directions were noted on the Goodenough-Harris HFD score, WISC Full Scale IQ, and positive sociometric rating by first-grade peers.     

The feminization of the female oedipal complex, Part I: a reconsideration of the significance of separation issues

Freud's insights about the oedipus complex have been universalized to include the psychology of the girl. The authors argue that this crucial developmental phase for girls has uniquely feminine characteristics that have not been fully recognized or cohesively incorporated into psychoanalytic theories. This paper addresses these differences, which are based on characteristic patterns of object relationships, typical defenses, and social considerations. The authors argue that "female oedipal" is an oxymoron, and propose that this constellation be named "the Persephone complex" after the Greek myth of Persephone, which seems to capture better the typical situation of the little girl. They focus on the issue of separation and its complicated and necessary role in the triangular situation of females. Using illustrations from clinical material, the authors argue that the frequent appearance of separation material linked to triangular heterosexual competitive fantasies can and should be differentiated from material in which ideas about separation stem from dyadic and earlier issues. Misunderstanding how these separation conflicts tie into triangular "oedipal" relationships can lead to a "preoedipalization" of the dynamics of girls and women.     

Science and religion: The categorial conflict

International Journal for Philosophy of Religion -