1. Function: According to the sexual selection perspective,
humor primarily serves a showing-off function; according
to the interest indicator model, humor is used to
communicate relationship interest. Thus, whereas sexual
selection suggests that humor causes attraction to
occur, interest indication predicts that humor initiation
and perceptions of humor are driven by attraction.
Consistent with the interest indicator model, the same
exact joke can be perceived as highly funny or unamusing
depending on who tells the joke.
2. Differentiation from general conversation: Because a
good-genes model emphasizes the conveying of intelligence,
it does not necessarily differentiate between humor
and general, intelligent conversation (i.e., both should be
able to highlight cognitive skills). In contrast, the interest
indicator model points to the specific function of humor
to communicate interest. That is, although saying something
creative or intelligent might be a way of showing
off to a potential mate, saying something humorous
should specifically convey relationship interest.
3. Direction of discourse: Research adopting a sexual
selection perspective has emphasized the importance of
men initiating humor and women responding (e.g.,
Bressler et al., 2006). In contrast, an interest indicator
model emphasizes that any individual who is interested
in a relationship should be more likely to initiate and
respond positively to humor.
4. Scope: Whereas sexual selection theory states that
humor evolved in the courtship domain and thus emphasizes
humor’s function in mate choice, the interest indicator
model applies equally to humor’s function across
all social domains. That is, just as people use and desire
humor not only in courtship, but across all types of social
relationships and across the different stages of those relationships,
the interest indicator account provides an
underlying framework for how humor functions across
diverse social relationships.
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