Temperament, Eysenck's PEIM System, and Humor-Related Traits*
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Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 1994 Temperament, Eysenck’s PEN system, and humor-related traits Ruch, Willibald DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/humr.1994.7.3.209 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-77509 Journal Article Published Version Originally published at: Ruch, Willibald (1994). Temperament, Eysenck’s PEN system, and humor-related traits. HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research, 7(3):209-244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/humr.1994.7.3.209 Temperament, Eysenck' s PEI M System, an d humorrelated traits* WILLIBALD RUCH Abstract The Eysenckian PEN System of personality (Eysenck 1991; Eysenck and Eysenck 1985), comprising the superfactors Psychotidsm (P), Extraversion (E), and Neuroticism (N), is used äs a means to locate different humor- related traits. A sample of 159 German adults answered a sample of temperamental traits relating to the PEN System äs well äs five humor- related questionnaires. The temperament inventories investigated comprised the following: the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-revised (EPQ-R; Eysenck, Eysenck and Barrett 1985), the L 7 Impulsiveness Questionnaire (1.7; Eysenck, Pearson, Easting, and Allsopp 1985), the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS; Zuckerman 1979), the STQ (Claridge and Broks 1984), the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM; Larsen and Diener 1987), the Pavlovian Temperament Survey (PTS; Strelau, Angleitner, Bantelmann, and Ruch 1990), and the Dimensions of Temperament Survey-Revised (DOTS-R; Windle and Lerner 1986). The humor inventories were the following: the Situational Humor Response Questionnaire (SHRQ; Martin and Lefcourt 1984), the Coping Humor Scale (CHS; Martin and Lefcourt 1983), Svebak's Sense of Humor Questionnaire (SHQ; Svebak 1974), the Telic Dominance Scale (TDS; Murgatroyd, Rushton, Apter, and Ray 1978), and the Sense of Humor Questionnaire (SHQZ; Ziv 1979). A joint factor analysis yieldedfactorsof Extraversion, Psychotidsm, and Neuroticism. Primarily E (and to a minor extent P) appeared to be relevant for the location ofthe current humor questionnaires. The Extraverts' sense of humor seemed to be characterized by their greater susceptibility for positive affect, smiling and laughter, enjoyment of entertaining others, carefreeness, and their lower degree of seriousness. A separate factor analy- sis of the humor scales yielded factor s of surgency and seriousness, which Humor 7 3 (1994) , 209244. 09331719/94/0007020 9 Bereitgestellt von | UZH Hauptbibliothek© Walter de / Gruyte Zentralbibliothekr Zürich Angemeldet | 130.60.233.47 Heruntergeladen am | 19.04.13 13:37 210 W. Ruch were associated with E and low P, respectively. An appraisal ofthe attempts to define andmeasure the sense ofhumor construct is undertaken. Introduction At a formal level, the expression "sense ofhumor" refers to a personality characteristic aime d a t describin g habitua l individua l diiference s i n humorrelated behavior . I t i s a descriptiv e hypothetical construct, a n invention, not a n "existing" entity. A certain conceptualization of sense of humor may be useful o r not useful, bu t not true orfalse. It s usefulness has to be demonstrated (als o ä s compared to alread y existing concepts) by predictin g individua l difference s primaril y i n humorrelate d phen omena, not i n other domains of behavior. As a personality trait, the "sense o f humor" refer s to a disposition fo r humorrelated behavio r not to the behavior itself. It can not be observed directly bu t inferred vi a indicators . Variou s conceptualization s o f th e sense o f humor o r facet s o f thi s construc t hav e been propose d an d a large number of measurement devices (including seif and peerevaluation techniques an d objectiv e tests ) hav e bee n constructe d (fo r review s see Ruch 1990,1993). There are many facets ofhumor behavior (for example, comprehension, enjoyment, creation, Initiation, and entertainment), and they involve many domains o f psychic functioning (fo r example, percep tion, cognition, emotion, motivation, attitudes, and performance). Hence, a comprehensiv e approach t o th e sens e of humor, that is , one which is aimed a t representin g th e whol e real m o f humorrelated behavior , wil l most likely arrive at a multidimensional concept. The state of the art in defining and measuring this concept, however, is far from being satisfac tory (see Thorson and Powel l 1993a) . Nevertheless, several facets o f the sense of humorconstruct hav e been proposed an d tools to thei r assess ment were constructed. Som e of these assessment tools , most frequently questionnaires, refer t o habitual form s o f the humor behaviors depicte d above.1 In other words , the tendency to laugh easily, to initiate humor, and s o fort h ar e see n ä s component s o f a sens e o f humortrait . Th e present stud y examine s th e locatio n o f thes e humorrelate d trait s an d habits in the PEN model of personality. While a sense of humorconstruct obviously would be a good predictor of individua l difference s i n humorrelated behavior , i t shoul d b e noted that othe r mor e general personality trait s migh t b e successfu l i n doing Bereitgestellt von | UZH Hauptbibliothek / Zentralbibliothek Zürich Angemeldet | 130.60.233.47 Heruntergeladen am | 19.04.13 13:37 Temperament, Eysenck's P System, and humor-related traits 21 1 so äs well. Hence, a sense of humorconstruct is not per se necessary for humor research . Indeed, som e theorists have argued agains t the use of this concept (fo r example , McGhee 1979). Finally, the sense of humorconstruct shoul d be considered a node in a net of personality traits, not an isolated phenomenon. Thus, the study of a ne w conceptualization o f sens e of humo r shoul d als o includ e th e exploration o f it s relationshi p t o alread y existin g traits . Attempt s t o locate individual conceptualizations o f sense of humor in comprehensive personality System s were spars e (Heh l an d Ruc h 1985 ; Ruch an d Heh l 1985), however, especially among the questionnaire measures of sense of humor (Ruch and Decker s 1993 ; Thorson an d Powell 1993b) . The present study is aimed at locating several sense of humor question naires i n th e Eysenckia n PE N Syste m o f personality . Th e choic e o f a system of temperament (rather than one of attitudes, values, or intellect) is determine d b y th e natur e o f th e conceptualization s o f th e humo r questionnaires to b e studied. The basic assumption i s that th e sens e of humor and temperament share some common dimensions. The PEN syste m The PEN syste m is a factor analytically based descriptiv e taxonomy of personality containing the three superfactors Psychoticism, Extraversion , and Neuroticism (Eysenck and Eysenck 1985). The PEN system assumes a hierarchica l arrangemen t o f personalit y characteristic s wit h Psy choticism (versu s Impulse Control), Extraversion (versu s Introversion) , and Neuroticism (versus Emotional Stability) located at the highest level. They are referred t o ä s types (o r secondorde r factor s in factor analytic terms) ä s oppose d t o traits (o r firstorde r factors ) definin g them . Th e type concept o f Psychoticism, o r P, is made up o f traits like aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive , antisocial, unemphatic , creative , and toughminded . Th e trait s whos e intercorrelations giv e ris e t o th e type concept o f Extraversion, or E, are sociable, lively , active, assertive, sensationseeking, carefree, dominant, surgent, and venturesome. Finally, Neuroticism, o r N , i s mad e u p o f trait s lik e anxious , depressed , guil t feelings, lo w selfesteem , tense , irrational , shy , moody, an d emotiona l (Eysenck an d Eysenc k 1985) . Thes e superfactor s wer e extracted fro m different inventorie s an d sho w a hig h degre e o f generizabilit y acros s different cultures . The y als o resembl e factor s extracte d fro m anima l behavior. Bereitgestellt von | UZH Hauptbibliothek / Zentralbibliothek Zürich Angemeldet | 130.60.233.47 Heruntergeladen am | 19.04.13 13:37 212 W. Ruch The PEN System also forms the basis for a causal theory of personality. There are many studies aimed at investigating the genetic architecture of P, E, and N and at identifying the psychophysiological an d biochemical factors relating to them. Eysenck has suggested cortical arousal, mediated by the reticular formation, äs being responsible fo r individual difference s in Extraversion and differences i n limbic System arousal, mediated by the sympathetic nervous System , ä s bein g responsibl e fo r individua l differ ences i n Neuroticism . Mor e recently , Psychoticis m wa s relate d t o th e hormonal Syste m (Eysenck and Eysenc k 1976). The superfactors P, E, and N an d temperament How do selecte d temperamen t traits relat e t o th e PEN System ? Due t o their Status äs higherorder factors of temperament, the PEN Syste m was frequently use d ä s a fram e o f referenc e fo r locatin g newl y develope d concepts.