Abstract
Background: Humor has been regarded as a core factor in creativity as well as an ideal personality trait in Western society. As such, humor has been considered actualization of one's creative potentials and interpersonal competence. In Chinese society, however, humor has been viewed quite ambiguously and is regarded a given talent of a few people.
Aims: The present study aimed to examine nomination of best humorists by undergraduates in China and in the West and to explore the underlining reasons. It is hypothesized that the Chinese students' nomination of best humorists would focus on comedians and the like whereas the Western students' nomination of best humorists would spread to various occupational and relational areas.
Sample: A total of 679 undergraduates participated in this study, including 178 students from Hangzhou (74 males, 104 females, with a mean age of 19.4 (SD=1.16)), 381 undergraduates from several universities in Hong Kong (170 males and 211 females, with a mean age of 21.6 (SD=1.76)), and 120 undergraduates from Vancouver (59 males, 61 females, with a mean age of 19.9 (SD=2.55).
Method: Students were required to nominate up to three best humorists and justify reasons for nomination. Results: Results show that students in Hangzhou and Hong Kong mostly nominated comedians, actors, and TV hosts but rarely nominated people in other occupations whereas students in Vancouver nominated people from a variety of occupations. Besides, students in Hangzhou and Hong Kong rarely nominated friends and relatives whereas students in Vancouver nominated a lot of their own friends and relatives.
Conclusion: As humor was considered as a sign of intellectual shallowness and social informality by in Chinese society, particularly by Confucian ethics, Chinese people did not think of humor as a desirable personality trait to develop. Chinese people need learn to be more humorous and apply humor in various walks of life.
Aims: The present study aimed to examine nomination of best humorists by undergraduates in China and in the West and to explore the underlining reasons. It is hypothesized that the Chinese students' nomination of best humorists would focus on comedians and the like whereas the Western students' nomination of best humorists would spread to various occupational and relational areas.
Sample: A total of 679 undergraduates participated in this study, including 178 students from Hangzhou (74 males, 104 females, with a mean age of 19.4 (SD=1.16)), 381 undergraduates from several universities in Hong Kong (170 males and 211 females, with a mean age of 21.6 (SD=1.76)), and 120 undergraduates from Vancouver (59 males, 61 females, with a mean age of 19.9 (SD=2.55).
Method: Students were required to nominate up to three best humorists and justify reasons for nomination. Results: Results show that students in Hangzhou and Hong Kong mostly nominated comedians, actors, and TV hosts but rarely nominated people in other occupations whereas students in Vancouver nominated people from a variety of occupations. Besides, students in Hangzhou and Hong Kong rarely nominated friends and relatives whereas students in Vancouver nominated a lot of their own friends and relatives.
Conclusion: As humor was considered as a sign of intellectual shallowness and social informality by in Chinese society, particularly by Confucian ethics, Chinese people did not think of humor as a desirable personality trait to develop. Chinese people need learn to be more humorous and apply humor in various walks of life.
| Translated title of the contribution | Nomination of best humorists: A study of 679 undergraduates in Hangzhou, Hong Kong, and Vancouver |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Pages (from-to) | 61-68 |
| Journal | 教育曙光 |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2011 |
Research Keywords
- 幽默
- 中西文化
- 幽默代表人物
- Humor
- Chinese and Western culture
- Humorists