Seeing the funny side: Humor in pro-environmental communication

Chris Skurka; Julia J Lee Cunningham

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101668

Seeing the funny side: Humor in pro-environmental communication

Curr Opin Psychol. 2023 Oct:53:101668. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101668. Epub 2023 Jul 20.

Authors

Chris Skurka¹, Julia J Lee Cunningham²

Affiliations

¹ Pennsylvania State University, Department of Media Studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Penn State University, 222 Carnegie, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. Electronic address: cjs7142@psu.edu.
² University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Management & Organizations, University of Michigan, 701 Tappen Avenue, R5312, AnnArbor, MI, 48104, USA.

PMID: 37572549
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101668

Abstract

Our review, drawing from various fields such as communication, psychology, marketing, and environmental studies, delves into the potential for humor in pro-environmental messaging to mobilize social change. The review examines different forms of humor, including satire, stand-up comedy, and scripted entertainment programming, and their impact on audience responses. We also highlight the possible drawbacks of using humor and factors that moderate its effects. Overall, the evidence paints a mixed picture whereby pro-environmental humor is largely successful in influencing proximal cognitive outcomes (attention, perceptions) but has more limited influence on distal outcomes (behavior) with the greatest benefits seen among low-interest groups. The need for more diverse samples and robust experimental designs is emphasized to fully comprehend the efficacy of humor in effecting environmental change.

Keywords: Climate change communication; Environmental communication; Humor; Social change.

Publication types

Review