Sense of Humor
Not surprisingly, men are much more inclined to say that they have a great sense of humor and that they can make their potential date laugh. Of course, this does not mean that they actually are funny, many of them probably are not. Nonetheless, by emphasizing their humor production abilities men acknowledge that humor is a highly desired trait by women looking for a mate. Women on the other hand, were much more likely than men to state that they want a man with a sense of humor.
An interesting finding was that people who proclaimed to have a good sense of humor were not the ones that wished they could date someone funny. These attributes are distinct and sex specific.
Regardless of sex, those who thought of themselves as funny and those interested in finding a partner with a good sense of humor were more likely to also value intelligence in a potential mate, implying that the two traits are intertwined. Research supports this, that actual humor production is, indeed,
associated with higher intelligence for both sexes.
In sum, these studies give further support to the theory that men and women use humor in different ways, especially when looking for mates.
Women, who are choosier than men, draw on humor to evaluate the intelligence and warmth of their potential date, especially in the early stages of courtship.
Men on the other hand are more focused on trying to impress their date with humor, perhaps in an attempt to convey intelligence. Men do not particularly care if the woman is funny, though they would like her to laugh at their jokes.
All these results are perfectly aligned with what sexual selection and the theory of mental fitness indicator theories predict, showing that a good sense of humor is deeply rooted in our psychology.
Gil Greengross Ph.D
in Humor Sapiens
Psychology Today
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