Extending the Study of Gelotophobia, Gelotophilia, and Katagelasticism in Romantic Life Toward Romantic Attachment
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Abstract. Gelotophobia (fear of being laughed at), gelotophilia (joy in being laughed at), and katagelasticism (joy in laughing at others) describe individual differences in how people deal with ridicule and being laughed at. We study their association with romantic attachment styles and romantic outcomes in adults. Study 1 ( N = 247) shows that gelotophobia goes along with higher expressions in attachment anxiety and avoidance. This study also provides support for the notion that gelotophobes demonstrate a lower likelihood of entering romantic relationships (odds ratio = 0.62/0.64 for past/current relationship status). Gelotophilia goes along with lower avoidance and katagelasticism exists independently from romantic attachment. Study 2 replicates the findings in 154 heterosexual romantic couples using Actor–Partner Interdependence Model analyses. However, katagelasticism was related to greater attachment anxiety in this sample of couples. A mini-meta analysis using data from both studies ( N = 555) clarified this association and showed that the joy in laughing at others yields a small positive association with attachment anxiety. Further, attachment styles mediate associations between the dispositions and relationship satisfaction in the couples. Overall, the dispositions are distinctively related with romantic attachment styles and our findings contribute to the understanding of the role of dealing with ridicule and laughter in romantic life.
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Attachment predicts current relationship status and prior relationship status over one's lifetime.
“For example, Brauer et al. [24,25] showed that attachment predicts current relationship status and prior relationship status over one’s lifetime.”
From Exploring the Association between Attachment Style, Psychological Well-Being, and Relationship Status in Young Adults and Adults—A Cross-Sectional Study (2023) · cites this paper as [25]
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- Authors
- Brauer, K., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W.
- Affiliations
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Brauer, Kay
- Venue
- Journal of Individual Differences
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2020-04
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 86-100
- ISSN
- 1614-0001 (ISSN-L)
- 2151-2299
- OpenAlex
- W2979801488
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 3.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.zora.uzh.ch
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Journal of Individual Differences (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Humor Studies and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- gelotophobia, gelotophilia, romantic attachment, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, ridicule, humor, relationship satisfaction, romantic relationships, individual differences
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