Abstract
The roles of mating cues and of intrasexual competition in humor production have not yet been assessed. Therefore, the present study explored the influence of implicit mating cues on humor enhancement. In two experiments involving 306 participants, using a priming methodology to examine sex differences and enhancement in humor production ability, participants were exposed to unattractive and attractive opposite-sex photographs, after which their humor production ability was rated. Studies differed in presentation durations of primes, and manipulation of intrasexual competition. The findings of Study 2 showed that, under conditions of intrasexual competition, men were superior to women in humor production ability and exhibited enhancement in humor ability following exposure to attractive women primes. The findings broaden the evolutionary cognitive framework in relation to sexual selection, differential parental investment, and social cognition.
Highlights
Is it possible to alter or enhance one’s capabilities or attributes when exposed to implicit cues? And can these attributes be modified to fit preferences of the other sex? A growing body of evidence in evolutionary psychology and social cognition research suggests that mating cues can activate behaviors linked to sex-differentiated mate preferences (Yong & Li, 2012)
To examine sex differences in the overall humor production score, I conducted an independent sample t-test with sex as the independent variable and the humor score as the dependent variable
To examine the attraction priming effect in the overall humor production score, I conducted paired sample t-tests with attraction as a within-participant independent variable and humor score as the dependent variable
Summary
A growing body of evidence in evolutionary psychology and social cognition research suggests that mating cues can activate behaviors linked to sex-differentiated mate preferences (Yong & Li, 2012). To test this premise, I conducted two studies that explored the influence of implicit mating cues on humor enhancement, based on the framework of social cognition and evolutionary psychology. Men universally have developed a preference for good looks and health in a mate, whereas women have developed a preference for social status, financial resources, stability, and intelligence (Buss, 1989, 2003; Shackelford, Schmitt, & Buss, 2005). Humor production ability has been suggested as a prominent indicator of intelligence, and empirical findings provide support for this notion (e.g., Feingold & Mazzella, 1991; Greengross & Miller, 2011; Howrigan & MacDonald, 2008)
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