Humor as a Mental Fitness Indicator

Daniel P. Howrigan, Psychology Department, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA. Email:
howrigan@colorado.edu (Corresponding author)
Kevin B. MacDonald, Psychology Department, California State University at Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
USA.

Abstract: To explain the pervasive role of humor in human social interaction and among
mating partner preferences, Miller (2000a) proposed that intentional humor evolved as an
indicator of intelligence. To test this, we looked at the relationships among rater-judged
humor, general intelligence, and the Big Five personality traits in a sample of 185 collegeage
students (115 women, 70 men). General intelligence positively predicted rater-judged
humor, independent of the Big Five personality traits. Extraversion also predicted raterjudged
humor, although to a lesser extent than general intelligence. General intelligence did
not interact with the sex of the participant in predicting rating scores on the humor
production tasks. The current study lends support to the prediction that effective humor
production acts as an honest indicator of intelligence in humans. In addition, extraversion,
and to a lesser extent, openness, may reflect motivational traits that encourage humor
production.

Keywords: Humor, intelligence, sexual selection, individual differences.