Transfer of humor training into work context

Humor is one important resource of employees for coping with multiple work stressors. The project aims at answering two questions: (i) is humor learnable, and (ii) what determinants are at play for successful transfer of effects of humor training to the workplace. The two-day employee trainings take place at schools, hospitals and small and medium-sized companies. Specific techniques (paradox intervention, contextual collisions/irony, exaggeration) as well as a general understanding of the functions of humor are trained. Among the variables crucial for effective transfer voluntary vs. involuntary attendance, fear of exposition and initial level of humor will be considered. With a pre-post-followup design, changes in e.g. self-esteem, self-efficacy, humor production and quick-wittedness will be assessed. Situational features of the workplace also impact the success of humor training and the subsequent possibility of humor utilization.

• Funding: Deutsches Institut für Humor (German Institute for Humor), Leipzig/Germany
• Duration: 2012-2015
• P.I: Christian Korunka