Opikhailo O. Psychological factors of different styles and forms of humor manifestation of personality.

The dissertation presents the results of the theoretical and methodological substantiation and empirical verification of the approach to investigating humor as a likely aspect of the implicit personality assessment. The prospects of investigating different aspects of humor manifestation in this capacity are in line with the recent tendencies in the personality research methodology to identifying the methods of the post-non-classical research rationality. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that different styles and forms of humor manifestation can be indicative of the level of optimal functioning the personality possesses. Currently in the field of personality psychology there appeared a number of new concepts that describe different styles and forms of humor manifestation. R. A. Martin singled out four major humor styles (mostly independent ways people express humor), two of which are considered to be relatively more healthy and adaptive (affiliative and self-enhancing humor) than the other two (aggressive and self-defeating humor). Alongside with potentially beneficial and detrimental humor styles three new laughter-related concepts have recently been identified by the mainstream psychology researchers: gelotophobia, gelotophilia and katagelasticism. M. Titze coined the term gelotophobia for describing the fear of being laughed at. Gelotophobia is manifested in behavior by dysfunction of the harmonious interplay of physical motions and social withdrawal. Although gelotophobes long for human proximity, acknowledgement, and love, they constantly distance themselves from others. The term gelotophilia is used for describing the individuals who tolerate and enjoy being laughed at by others. The term katagelasticism is used to describe individuals who actively seek and enjoy situations in which they can laugh at others. At present gelotophobia as well as the interrelated forms of humor perception and manifestation is studied both in the clinical and non-clinical contexts.