Vallely, Dane (2015) The Replenishing Effect of Humour on Ego Depletion: A Protective Function for Risk Taking? Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
With the range of negative physical, economic, and psychosocial consequences that risk taking behaviours can have on individuals, their families, and society; research into the factors that influence risk taking is essential (Trimpop, 1994). Previous literature examining the relationship between ego depletion and risk taking have found compelling evidence that ego depletion can lead to both increased and decreased risk taking. Previous research has also found preliminary evidence that humour is an effective technique to replenish a person’s volitional resources after depletion. However, the current study is the first to examine whether viewing a humorous video would (a) replenish a person’s volitional resources and (b) result in an increase or decrease in risk taking behaviours. A double blind randomised design was undertaken with 123 participants randomly assigned to view a humour or emotionally neutral video. The control condition (n = 58) consisted of 58.62% females and 39.66% males aged between 17-56 (M = 29.17, SD = 11.61) and the humour condition (n = 64) consisted of 60.94% females and 25 males aged between 15-64 (M =28.41, SD = 11.38). Participants attended a one-on-one session with one of two researchers and completed in order a: letter crossing depletion induction, story manipulation check, humour or emotionally neutral video, video manipulation check, a Stroop, the Domain Specific Risk Taking Questionnaire (DOSPERT), grip persistence task (not used in this study), and demographics. As hypothesised, the humour condition showed greater replenishment of volitional resources (i.e. scored significantly faster reaction times on the Stroop) than the control condition. The humour condition reported a greater likelihood to engage in risky behaviours than the control condition. The current study provides valuable additional evidence that humour is an effective technique in replenishing volitional resources. However, the finding that humour (through replenishment of volitional resources) leads to increased risk taking shows that the relationship between ego depletion and risk taking is complex. Future research should expand on the humour findings by examining the effects of: how long people are exposed to humour, whether the replenished self-control is sustained or temporary, and whether tailoring humour to people humour style is more effective. With the complexity of the ego depletion and risk taking relationship, future research should investigate: the immediacy of the positive and negative consequences of risky behaviour and the amount of volitional resources required to engage in different risky behaviours.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Michael Ireland |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Sep 2025 01:45 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Sep 2025 01:45 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52839 |
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