Navigation auf zora.uzh.ch

Search ZORA

ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive)

Migration von ZORA auf die Software DSpace

ZORA will change to a new software on 8th September 2025. Please note: deadline for new submissions is 21th July 2025!

Information & dates for training courses can be found here: Information on Software Migration.

How virtuous are gelotophobes? Self- and peer-reported character strengths among those who fear being laughed at

Proyer, Rene T; Ruch, Willibald (2009). How virtuous are gelotophobes? Self- and peer-reported character strengths among those who fear being laughed at. Humor, 22(1/2):145-163.

Abstract

In this study we combine variables that make our lives most worth living with the fear of being laughed at. Peterson and Seligman (Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification, American Psychological Association, 2004) suggested a classification of 24 strengths of character and six virtues. The virtues are universally evaluated positively across different countries and cultures. A sample of N = 346 participants allowed the examination of correlations between self- and peer-reported character strengths and gelotophobia. The results indicate that gelotophobia is negatively related to overall virtuousness in self-reports and in the same direction but less so in peer-reports. The rank-order of the character strengths showed that mainly modesty and prudence (both of the virtue of temperance) were positively correlated with gelotophobia (this was also supported by peer-reports). Gelotophobia was mainly negatively related to hope/optimism, curiosity, bravery, love, and zest. The analysis of mean score differences revealed that in some cases the mean scores for the peer-reports of character strengths were higher for the highest scoring gelotophobes than for the less gelotophobic and even lower or equal to the mean scores of the non-gelotophobes. This unexpected finding cannot be fully explained and needs to be addressed in follow-up studies. The results of the study clearly indicate that it is worthwhile to study gelotophobia in its relation to variables of positive psychological functioning.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:06 Faculty of Arts > Institute of Psychology
Dewey Decimal Classification:150 Psychology
Scopus Subject Areas:Social Sciences & Humanities > Language and Linguistics
Social Sciences & Humanities > Sociology and Political Science
Social Sciences & Humanities > General Psychology
Social Sciences & Humanities > Linguistics and Language
Uncontrolled Keywords:Character strength, gelotophobia, humor, peer-report, positive, , psychology, virtue
Language:English
Date:February 2009
Deposited On:14 Mar 2009 17:11
Last Modified:05 Jul 2025 03:37
Publisher:De Gruyter
ISSN:0933-1719
OA Status:Green
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1515/HUMR.2009.007
Download PDF  'How virtuous are gelotophobes? Self- and peer-reported character strengths among those who fear being laughed at'.
Preview
  • Content: Published Version
  • Language: English
  • Description: Nationallizenz 142-005

Metadata Export

Statistics

Citations

Dimensions.ai Metrics
27 citations in Web of Science®
32 citations in Scopus®
Google Scholar™

Altmetrics

Downloads

186 downloads since deposited on 14 Mar 2009
18 downloads since 12 months
Detailed statistics

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications