The more the merrier? Investigating the role of interpersonal interactions in the expression of humor through musical improvisation

We are often more amused within groups than alone. One plausible explanation is that it might be easier for groups to be funny than for single individuals, thanks to the additional humorous resources provided by interactions. To test this, 14 professional musicians improvised 112 performances of humorous music, both solo and in duos. Perceptual experiments showed duos were generally funnier than soloists, though not significantly so when explicitly aiming for humor. Group settings altered individual strategies, reducing reliance on surprise. Ironic interactions proved more successful than playful ones, but interactional humor was not more successful than self-oriented humor. These findings suggest that while small-group humor has distinct qualities, interactional resources may not be the main factor behind increased amusement in group settings.