The relation of humor structure appreciation with sensation seeking and judgments of complex-abstract art and sophisticated music

Abstract

The aim of the present study is two-fold. Firstly, the relation between sensation seeking and humor structure appreciation has been investigated (Carretero-Dios & Ruch, 2010), and also the association between humor structure appreciation and complex-abstract art has been reported (Ruch & Hehl, 1998). In that sense, this study aims to replicate previously reported findings. Second, the association between humor structure appreciation and sophisticated music (Rentfrow, Goldberg, & Levitin, 2011) was explored. Results obtained from 77 participants partially supported the predictions. Sensation seeking was negatively related with the aversiveness ratings of Nonsense humor, while pleasantness of complex-abstract art was negatively associated with funniness of Incongruity-Resolution humor and positively with the structure preference index. Aversiveness of Incongruity-Resolution humor correlated negatively with sophisticated music ratings. Finally, ratings on the abstract-art paintings and sophisticated musical excerpts were positively associated. Implications of the findings, limitations of this study and avenues for further research are examined.