The Psychology of Humor: A Reference Guide and Annotated Bibliography

(Hardback)

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This work traces the origins and evolution of the concept of humor in psychology from ancient to modern times with an emphasis on an experimental/empirical approach to the understanding of humor and sense of humor. In addition to more than 3,000 important citations and references pertaining to the history, theories, and definitions of the concept of humor, this reference guide contains more than 380 recent (post-1970) annotated entries on the psychology of humor in its bibliographic section. The book describes various psychological, nonpsychological, and philosophical theories and definitions of humor, and focuses on the methodological concerns of psychologists regarding the scientific investigation of humor. The bibliography is organized under 10 categories, including Bibliographies and Literature Reviews of Humor, Cognition and Humor, Methodology and Measurement of Humor, and Social Aspects of Humor.

Reviews

"This work is an extremely valuable resource. The book not only references most of the articles about the psychology of humor but also draws parallels, inferences, and even some conclusions. A wide variety of topics are discussed clearly and with insight....[d]eserves a place on the shelf of every humor scholar, not just psychologists. As a guide it will be helpful to workers in other fields to indicate what empirical information is available. Certainly this collection and the attendant discussions are a running start to the long awaited humor textbook."-Humor: International Journal of Humor Research
[t]his solid and scholarly compendium gives some indication of how far we have come. It will be of inestimable value to those engaged in developing the field further. Although this is not a book that i will take to the beach, I will certainly place it among my favored reference books on a shelf close at hand, and I suspect that others involved in humor research (despite the high price) will do likewise. The Psychology of Humor deserves to become a standard reference in the field.-APA Review of Books
[T]imely and welcome....will be of inestimable value to those engaged in developing the field further....The Psychology of Humor deserves to become a standard reference in the field.-Contemporary Psychology
The only bibliography to be found on this topic, it has five chapters written for general readers, teachers, or researchers, each with a bibliography. The annotated bibliography proper is selective, favoring studies containing data collection or measurement....Recommended for academic and public libraries.-Choice
This work is an extremely valuable resource. The book not only references most of the articles about the psychology of humor but also draws parallels, inferences, and even some conclusions. A wide variety of topics are discussed clearly and with insight....[d]eserves a place on the shelf of every humor scholar, not just psychologists. As a guide it will be helpful to workers in other fields to indicate what empirical information is available. Certainly this collection and the attendant discussions are a running start to the long awaited humor textbook.-Humor: International Journal of Humor Research
"this solid and scholarly compendium gives some indication of how far we have come. It will be of inestimable value to those engaged in developing the field further. Although this is not a book that i will take to the beach, I will certainly place it among my favored reference books on a shelf close at hand, and I suspect that others involved in humor research (despite the high price) will do likewise. The Psychology of Humor deserves to become a standard reference in the field."-APA Review of Books
"Timely and welcome....will be of inestimable value to those engaged in developing the field further....The Psychology of Humor deserves to become a standard reference in the field."-Contemporary Psychology
"[t]his solid and scholarly compendium gives some indication of how far we have come. It will be of inestimable value to those engaged in developing the field further. Although this is not a book that i will take to the beach, I will certainly place it among my favored reference books on a shelf close at hand, and I suspect that others involved in humor research (despite the high price) will do likewise. The Psychology of Humor deserves to become a standard reference in the field."-APA Review of Books
"[T]imely and welcome....will be of inestimable value to those engaged in developing the field further....The Psychology of Humor deserves to become a standard reference in the field."-Contemporary Psychology
"The only bibliography to be found on this topic, it has five chapters written for general readers, teachers, or researchers, each with a bibliography. The annotated bibliography proper is selective, favoring studies containing data collection or measurement....Recommended for academic and public libraries."-Choice

Author Bio

JON E. ROECKELEIN is Professor of Psychology at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona. A past Staff Intelligence Officer and research psychologist for the U.S. Army, he has taught and conducted psychological research for more than 30 years.