Functions and types of travel-related dark humour created during pandemics

Abstract

This paper examines role of a dark humour as stress-coping resource during COVID-19 pandemics. For this purpose, a theoretical framework is first proposed, that taxonomically relate pandemic stressors with relevant functions, styles and types of humour. In empirical part, an exploratory study of 180 topical online jokes was conducted, by means of content (thematic) analysis. Obtained results reveal four dominant and naturally occurring themes (termed New travelling realities, Rising travel urges, Infected people like to travel and Hypocritical tourism providers), that expose commonly experienced travel-related stressors. In order to cope with them, versatile functions of humour are discerned, namely cognitive re-appraisal, emotional regulation and social critique. These functions correspond with distinctive components of humour, where positive styles (affiliative one in particular) and particular types (i.e. exaggeration and sarcasm) are dominant. Derived theoretical and practical implications for effective application of humour for stress-management during tourism crises are also discussed.