Sense of Humor and the Coping Process in Marriage

Abstract

Researchers interested in the nature of close relationships have typically assumed that the establishment of warm emotional ties is a fundamental psychological need (Bowlby, 1973; Maslow, 1962). Marriage, by virtue of the intimacy, solace, and comfort that it provides, serves as one of the most important ways that individuals may find the closeness to which these authors alluded. In support of this assumption, there is evidence that satisfaction with marriage contributes more to general life satisfaction than does satisfaction with any other area of human functioning, including work and career (Glenn & Weaver, 1981). Furthermore, the social support available in intimate relationships such as marriage is an important moderator of stress (Brown & Harris, 1978; Gottlieb, 1983; Mitchell, Cronkite, & Moos, 1983; Sarason & Sarason, 1985). Clearly, marriage, with its opportunities for satisfaction, security, intimacy, and stress reduction, is an area of human functioning that can contribute tremendously to mental health and psychological well-being. In contrast, the psychological and emotional costs of marital disruption are great in terms of psychopathology of individuals (Bloom, Asher, & White, 1978) and in its negative impact on children, both during childhood (Hetherington, Cox & Cox, 1979) and adulthood (Kulka & Weingarten, 1979).