Can Memes Indoctrinate Children? The Psychology of Comedy

Today, I looked at some horrifically unfunny (IMO), yet intended to be humorous videos aimed at educating children into a certain mindset and pose the question "does humor persuade?". To answer this question I go through the extensive research on persuasion and advertising as well as education and learning outcomes in association with humor usage.

NOTE: The clip of FIresign Theatre had to be removed so sorry for the dead air.

You can gib shekels here:

Check Sinatra since he made videos on this:

References:

Bell, R. A., & Daly, J. A. (1984). The affinity seeking function of communication. Communications Monographs, 51(2), 91-115.

Booth-Butterfield, S., & Booth-Butterfield, M. (1991). Individual differences in the communication of humorous messages. Southern Journal of Communication, 56(3), 205-218.

Cialdini, R. B. (2016). Influence: Science and practice (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Cialdini, R. B. (1984). Influence: The psychology of persuasion.

Cunningham, W. A., & Derks, P. (2005). Humor appreciation and latency of comprehension. International Journal of Humor Research, 18(4), 389–403.

Eisend, M. (2009). A meta-analysis of humor in advertising. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 37(2), 191-203.

Geuens, M., & Pelsmacker, P. (2002) ,The role of humor in the persuasion of individuals varying in need for cognition. In Broniarczyk, S.M., & Nakamoto K. (Eds.), NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 29 (50-56) Valdosta GA : Association for Consumer Research.

Graham, E. E., Papa, M. J., & Brooks, G. P. (1992). Functions of humor in conversation: Conceptualization and measurement. Western Journal of Communication, 56(2), 161-183.

Gulas, C. S., & Weinberger, M. G. (2006). Humor in advertising: A comprehensive analysis. ME Sharpe.

Ruch, W. (2008). Psychology of humor. In Raskin, V. (Ed.). The primer of humor research, 8, 17.

Ruch, W., McGhee, P. E., & Hehl, F. J. (1990). Age differences in the enjoyment of incongruity-resolution and nonsense humor during adulthood. Psychology and Aging, 5(3), 348.

Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (1986). The elaboration likelihood model of persuasion. In Hovland, C. (Ed.). Communication and persuasion (1-24). Springer New York

Wanzer, M. B., Booth‐Butterfield, M., & Booth‐Butterfield, S. (1996). Are funny people popular? An examination of humor orientation, loneliness, and social attraction. Communication Quarterly, 44(1), 42-52.

Wanzer, M. B., Frymier, A. B., & Irwin, J. (2010). An explanation of the relationship between instructor humor and student learning: Instructional humor processing theory. Communication Education, 59(1), 1-18.

Wanzer, M. B., & Frymier, A. B. (1999). The relationship between student perceptions of instructor humor and students’ reports of learning. Communication Education, 48(1), 48-62.

Weinberger, M. G., & Campbell, L. (1991). The use and impact of humor in radio advertising. Journal of Advertising Research, 31(1), 44-52.

Weinberger, M. G., & Gulas, C. S. (1992). The impact of humor in advertising: A review. Journal of Advertising, 21(4), 35-59.