Rated funniness and dissimilarity of figures Divergence from expectancy

Abstract.— Three experiments were conducted to test whether funniness of a stimulus could be interpreted as a function of divergence from expenctancy concerning the stimulus as a member of different classes.
Stimuli were combinations of two moving, successive, non-representational figures projected onto two screens. Funniness of the figure to the right was rated, as was divergence in qualities between the figure to the right and the preceeding one on the left. The main prediction was that data would show a decrease after an increase in funniness with increasing divergence for a certain right-hand stimulus. An increase should reflect a series of similar classes, a decrease a transition to another series. In some instances a decrease did occur after an increase, as predicted; in others the series of combinations seemed to overlap. Funniness could be interpreted as formulated initially.