An observational study of humor use while resolving conflict in dating couples LORNE CAMPBELL, ROD A. MARTIN, AND JENNIE R. WARD University of Western Ontario Abstract This research focused on whether affiliative and aggressive humor use was associated with relationship satisfaction and with greater perceived closeness, problem resolution, and emotional distress following a conflict discussion task. Ninety-eight dating couples from a large Texas University participated in this research. Both partners independently completed questionnaires about their relationship perceptions, participated in a videotaped conflict resolution task, and then answered some additional questions. The results revealed that individuals whose partners used more affilia- tive and less aggressive humor during the discussion were more satisfied with their relationship and reported an increase in perceived closeness and better problem resolution following the discussion. These results highlight the importance of both positive and negative forms of humor in the regulation of close relationships. A number of researchers and theorists have proposed that humor plays an important role in the formation, maintenance, and regulation of close interpersonal relationships (e.g., Lef- court, 2001; Shiota, Campos, Keltner, & Her- tenstein, 2004; Ziv & Gadish, 1989). Indeed, most people see a sense of humor as a very desirable characteristic in a potential friend or romantic partner (Goodwin & Tang, 1991; Sprecher & Regan, 2002). Strangers who share humorous experiences and laugh together dur- ing a first encounter tend to report greater feel- ings of closeness and attraction to one another than do those who share an equally enjoyable but nonhumorous experience (Fraley & Aron, 2004). In more established relationships, the positive emotions associated with humorous communication and laughter between partners can also presumably reinforce mutual feelings of affection, strengthen attachment, and con- tribute to greater relationship satisfaction (Shiota et al., 2004; Smoski & Bachorowski, 2003). Besides enhancing positive feelings and bonding in relationships, humor can also serve to stabilize a relationship during times of disagreement or conflict. For example, humor can communicate underlying feelings of affec- tion despite overt disagreements, to relieve tension during an argument, or as a means of backing down gracefully from a confrontation (Kane, Suls, & Tedeschi, 1977; Long & Graesser, 1988). Friendly teasing can also communicate mild criticism in a face-saving manner (Keltner, Capps, Kring, Young, & Heerey, 2001). In sum, as Ziv (1984) expressed it, humor ‘‘greases the wheels of relationships’’ (p. 3). On the other hand, humor can be used in more negative ways that may be detrimental to close relationships. For example, people may use aggressive forms of teasing to disparage, ridi- cule, intimidate, or indirectly manipulate others by means of humor (Kowalski, Howerton, & McKenzie, 2001; Long & Graesser, 1988). A humorous response may also be an indirect way of dismissing a partner’s concerns or refusing to Lorne Campbell, Rod Martin, and Jennie Ward, Depart- ment of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. We gratefully acknowledge the support of a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada awarded to Lorne Campbell to assist in the prep- aration of this paper. Correspondence should be addressed to Lorne Camp- bell, The University of Western Ontario, Department of Psychology, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5C2, e-mail: lcampb23@uwo.ca. Personal Relationships , 15 (2008), 41–55. Printed in the United States of America. Copyright Ó 2008 IARR. 1350-4126=08 41