One aspect of social perception often noted as deficient in learning disabled individuals is an appropriate sense of humor. The purpose of this study was to examine the cartoon humor comprehension of learning disabled and non-handicapped boys in two age groups, 8- and 12-year-olds. The cognitive structure rather than the content of humor was the focus. In addition to examining comprehension of cartoon humor between groups and across age levels, the relationship between comprehension and appreciation measures was studied. Significant main effects were found indicating a developmental lag for the learning disabled subjects. Moderate correlations were established between comprehension and appreciation measures.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AndersonK.RichardsH.HallahanD. (1980). Piagetian task performance of learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 13 (9), 501–505.
2.
AusubelD.P.SullivanE.V.IvesS.W. (1980). Theory and problems of child development (3rd ed.). New York: Grune & Stratton.
3.
BrodzinskyD.M. (1975). The role of conceptual tempo and stimulus characteristics in children's humor development. Developmental Psychology, 11, 843–849.
4.
BrodzinskyD.M. (1977). Children's comprehension and appreciation of verbal jokes in relation to conceptual tempo. Child Development, 48, 960–967.
5.
BrodzinskyD.M.FeuerV.OwensJ. (1977). Detection of linguistic ambiguity by reflective, impulsive, fast-accurate and slow-inaccurate children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 69, 237–243.
6.
BrodzinskyD.M.TewJ.D.PalkovitzR. (1979). Control of humorous affect in relation to children's conceptual tempo. Developmental Psychology, 15, 275–279.
7.
BryanT. (1974). An observational analysis of classroom behaviors of children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 7, 26–34.
8.
GoinsJ.T. (1958). Visual perceptual abilities and early reading program (Supplementary Educational Monographs No. 87). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
9.
HallenbeckP.N. (1976, January). Remediating with comic strips. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 9 (1), 11–15.
JohnsonD.J. (1968). The language continuum. Bulletin of the Orton Society, 18, 1–11.
12.
JohnsonD.J.MyklebustH.R. (1967). Learning disabilities: Educational principles and practices. New York: Grune and Stratton.
13.
KellyW.E. (1984). Using humor in special education and otherwise (Conference Session F56-Excerpts). ACLD Newsbriefs, 155, 3.
14.
KronickD.A. (1977). Parents' thoughts for parents and teachers. In HaringN.G.BatemanB. (Eds.), Teaching the learning disabled child (pp. 321–338). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.)
15.
LaFaveL.HaddadJ.MaesenW.A. (1976). Superiority, enhanced self-esteem, and perceived incongruity humor theory. In ChapmanA.J.FootH.C. (Eds.), Humor and laughter: Theory, research and applications (pp. 63–91). New York: John Wiley & Sons.)
16.
MaierN.R.F. (1932). A gestalt theory of humor. British Journal of Psychology, 23, 69–74.
17.
McGheeP.E. (1971). Cognitive development and children's comprehension of humor. Child Development, 42, 123–138.
18.
McGheeP.E. (1979). Humor: Its origin and development. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company.
19.
McGheeP.E. (1983). The role of arousal and hemispheric lateralization in humor. In McGheeP.E.GoldsteinJ.H. (Eds.), Handbook of humor research: Basic issues (pp. 13–38). New York: Springer-Verlag.)
20.
PienD.RothbartM.K. (1976). Incongruity and resolution in children's humor: A reexamination. Child Development, 47, 966–971.
21.
RossA.O. (1976). Psychological aspects of learning disabilities and reading disorders. New York: McGraw-Hill.
22.
RothbartM.K. (1973). Laughter in young children. Psychological Bulletin, 80, 247–256.
23.
RothbartM.K. (1976). Incongruity, problem-solving and laughter. In ChapmanA.J.FootH.C. (Eds.), Humor and laughter: Theory, research and applications (pp. 37–54). London: Wiley.)
24.
ShultzT.R. (1972). The role of incongruity and resolution in children's appreciation of cartoon humor. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 13, 456–477.
25.
ShultzT.R. (1974). Order of cognitive processing in humor appreciation. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 28, 409–420.
26.
SiegelE.GoldR.F. (1982). Educating the learning disabled. New York: Macmillan.
27.
VranaF.PihlR. (1980). Selective attention deficit in learning disabled children: A cognitive interpretation. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 13 (7), 387–390.
28.
WiigE.H.SemelE.M. (1980). Language assessment and intervention for the learning disabled. Columbus: Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company.
29.
WongB.V.L.WongR. (1980). Role-taking skills in normal achieving and learning disabled children. Learning Disability Quarterly, 3 (2), 11–18.
30.
ZiglerE.LevineJ.GouldL. (1966). Cognitive process in the development of children's appreciation of humor. Child Development, 37, 507–518.
