Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire
The current paper addresses the measurement of three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter; i.e., gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at), gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at), and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others). These traits explain inter-individual differences in res...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00714/full |
| _version_ | 1819267036698640384 |
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| author | Jennifer Hofmann Jennifer Hofmann Willibald Ruch Willibald Ruch René T. Proyer Tracey Platt Fabian Gander Fabian Gander |
| author_facet | Jennifer Hofmann Jennifer Hofmann Willibald Ruch Willibald Ruch René T. Proyer Tracey Platt Fabian Gander Fabian Gander |
| author_sort | Jennifer Hofmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current paper addresses the measurement of three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter; i.e., gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at), gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at), and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others). These traits explain inter-individual differences in responses to humor, laughter, and social situations related to humorous encounters. First, an ultra-short form of the PhoPhiKat-45 (Ruch and Proyer, 2009) was adapted in two independent samples (Construction Sample N = 157; Replication Sample N = 1,774). Second, we tested the validity of the PhoPhiKat-9 in two further independent samples. Results showed that the psychometric properties of the ultra-short form were acceptable and the proposed factor structure could be replicated. In Validation Sample 1 (N = 246), we investigated the relation of the three traits to responses in a ridicule and teasing scenario questionnaire. The results replicated findings from earlier studies by showing that gelotophobes assigned the same emotions to friendly teasing and malicious ridicule (predominantly low joy, high fear, and shame). Gelotophilia was mainly predicted by relating joy to both, teasing and ridicule scenarios, while katagelasticism was predicted by assigning joy and contempt to ridicule scenarios. In Validation Sample 2 (N = 1,248), we investigated whether the fear of being laughed at is a vulnerability at the workplace: If friendly teasing and laughter of co-workers, superiors, or customers are misperceived as being malicious, individuals may feel less satisfied and more stressed. The results from a representative sample of Swiss employees showed that individuals with a fear of being laughed at are generally less satisfied with life and work and experience more work stress. Moreover, gelotophilia went along with positive evaluations of one's life and work, while katagelasticism was negatively related to work satisfaction and positively related to work stress. In order to establish good work practices and build procedures against workplace bullying, one needs to consider that individual differences impact on a person's perception of being bullied and assessing the three dispositions may give important insights into team processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T21:10:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20711c5d3085460e9b729d53d8d0c631 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T21:10:47Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-20711c5d3085460e9b729d53d8d0c6312022-12-21T17:31:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782017-05-01810.3389/fpsyg.2017.00714255061Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 QuestionnaireJennifer Hofmann0Jennifer Hofmann1Willibald Ruch2Willibald Ruch3René T. Proyer4Tracey Platt5Fabian Gander6Fabian Gander7Personality and Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of ZurichZurich, SwitzerlandSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research Lives–Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course PerspectivesLausanne, SwitzerlandPersonality and Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of ZurichZurich, SwitzerlandSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research Lives–Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course PerspectivesLausanne, SwitzerlandDepartment of Psychology, Martin-Luther University Halle-WittenbergHalle, GermanyInstitute of Psychology, University of WolverhamptonWolverhampton, UKPersonality and Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of ZurichZurich, SwitzerlandSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research Lives–Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course PerspectivesLausanne, SwitzerlandThe current paper addresses the measurement of three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter; i.e., gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at), gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at), and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others). These traits explain inter-individual differences in responses to humor, laughter, and social situations related to humorous encounters. First, an ultra-short form of the PhoPhiKat-45 (Ruch and Proyer, 2009) was adapted in two independent samples (Construction Sample N = 157; Replication Sample N = 1,774). Second, we tested the validity of the PhoPhiKat-9 in two further independent samples. Results showed that the psychometric properties of the ultra-short form were acceptable and the proposed factor structure could be replicated. In Validation Sample 1 (N = 246), we investigated the relation of the three traits to responses in a ridicule and teasing scenario questionnaire. The results replicated findings from earlier studies by showing that gelotophobes assigned the same emotions to friendly teasing and malicious ridicule (predominantly low joy, high fear, and shame). Gelotophilia was mainly predicted by relating joy to both, teasing and ridicule scenarios, while katagelasticism was predicted by assigning joy and contempt to ridicule scenarios. In Validation Sample 2 (N = 1,248), we investigated whether the fear of being laughed at is a vulnerability at the workplace: If friendly teasing and laughter of co-workers, superiors, or customers are misperceived as being malicious, individuals may feel less satisfied and more stressed. The results from a representative sample of Swiss employees showed that individuals with a fear of being laughed at are generally less satisfied with life and work and experience more work stress. Moreover, gelotophilia went along with positive evaluations of one's life and work, while katagelasticism was negatively related to work satisfaction and positively related to work stress. In order to establish good work practices and build procedures against workplace bullying, one needs to consider that individual differences impact on a person's perception of being bullied and assessing the three dispositions may give important insights into team processes.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00714/fullassessmentbullyinggelotophobiahumorlaughterwork satisfaction |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Hofmann Jennifer Hofmann Willibald Ruch Willibald Ruch René T. Proyer Tracey Platt Fabian Gander Fabian Gander Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire Frontiers in Psychology assessment bullying gelotophobia humor laughter work satisfaction |
| title | Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire |
| title_full | Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire |
| title_short | Assessing Dispositions Toward Ridicule and Laughter in the Workplace: Adapting and Validating the PhoPhiKat-9 Questionnaire |
| title_sort | assessing dispositions toward ridicule and laughter in the workplace adapting and validating the phophikat 9 questionnaire |
| topic | assessment bullying gelotophobia humor laughter work satisfaction |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00714/full |
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