The purpose of this study was to examine the mediator effects of dispositions towards laughter and ridicule between interpersonal competencies and positive relations. The study included a convenience sample of 476 participants who completed the following questionnaires: Dispositions towards laughter and ridicule PhoPhiKat-45, Interpersonal Reactivity Index IRI (perspective taking and empathy scales), Tromso Social Intelligence Scale TSIS and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales RPWB (positive relations scale). Results of the structural equation modelling showed that the partially mediated model fits the data better than the fully mediated model. In addition, I discovered no support for the mediation role of dispositions towards laughter and ridicule in the partially mediated model. The partially mediated model therefore lacked empirical support. Results supported the hypothesis that social intelligence is a tool, which may be used for both prosocial (adaptive humour) and antisocial purposes (maladaptive humor). Contrary to my expectations, the relationship between social information processing and gelotophobia is positive, which could indicate that people with excessive fear of being laughed at can perhaps distinguish between laughter and ridicule. Furthermore, social skills were the only statistically significant predictor of positive relations in the model. Dispositions towards laugther and ridicule had negligible role in predicting positive relations. To sum up, previous studies may have overstated the effect humor has on the quality of interpersonal relationships. However, my conclusions are limited because of the poor internal structure validity of the TSIS. Further studies are needed to validate my findings.
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