Cross-national comparison of humor categories: France and Germany

The present study examines the cross-national stability of a factor-analytically derived taxonomy ofjokes and cartoons.The comparison is based on a humor lest aimed at measuring funniness and aversiveness of incongruityresolution, nonsense, and sexual humor.Funniness anddegree ofcontroversiality of these humor categories were compared in France and Germany, and it was determined whether conservatism and intolerance of ambiguity are potent predictors of appreciation of these humor categories in France, s they have been in prior German studies.A sample of 69 male and 70 female French, students responded to French translations of the humor fest , Ruch and Hehl 1985) s well s to two questionnaires measuring conservatism and intolerance of ambiguity.Their results were compared with those of a German sample of 59 male and 56 female students.The results showed that the taxonomy derivedfrom German andAustrian samples can be applied to French samples s well; the factor structures were very similar both at the level ofthefactors themselves andat the level of individuell jokes and cartoons.Furthermore, comparable rank Orders of funniness ofjokes and cartoons were obtainedfor both samples.However, only the sexual humor category yielded sthle controversiality across the two samples.Finally, the personality traits of conservatism and intolerance of ambiguity were predictive of appreciation of the humor categories in France, s they were in prior studies in Germany and Austria.