Constructing a Coactivation Model for Explaining Humor Elicitation

The present study first aimed to construct a coactivation model that integrates cognitive and motivational variables that determine an individual’s conscious humor experience. It then aimed to test the model’s reliability, validity, and generalizability. As part of the study, 16 (out of 48) four-frame cartoons were randomly presented to 201 (42 male and 159 female) high school students and 302 (185 male and 117 female) undergraduate and graduate students (age range was 15 to 23, M = 18.15, SD = 1.79) who were instructed to rate items related to the variable humor. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the generalizability of the model to predict the humor experience to a great extent within different population samples was shown. Furthermore, the theoretical prediction of the coactivation model was supported. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of future research that could demonstrate the possible application of the coactivation model.