Humour as Indirect Influence: Different Types of Managers' Sense of Humour and Psychological climate in a Team

• Authors: Jānis Roze
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Introduction. This article examines whether different levels and types of managers' sense of humour influence psychological climate in a work team.The Aim of the Study. To investigate whether different levels out of four humour styles (affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating) and managers' sense of humour influence the psychological climate in a team of employees.Materials and Methods. Four varieties of sense of humour were investigated: affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating as well as the aggregate multidimensional sense of humour. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) was used with a factorial 2 x (gender) x 2 (age) x 2 (humour) as independent variables and level of psychological climate (Support and Involvement scales) in work group as a dependent variable, and EQ interpersonal factor as covariate.Results and Discussion. Female managers' sense of humour does not affect psychological climate in a work team indicating that the subordinates do not appreciate (or simply ignore) females' sense of humour. This conforms to the researches identifying prejudges against female managers. Some research papers state that the managers' role is perceived and explained through traits which are more often attributed to males than females. For male managers sense of humour is linked to the subordinates' willingness to be involved in work, indicating that subordinates appreciate and estimate that the manager has a sense of humour and they are more eager to take up their work roles when the supervisor is understanding and supportive. Controlling of the age factor revealed that sense of humour is important only for young male managers (those under 40); managers with a good sense of humour are perceived as supportive by the subordinates. For older managers (41 and above) no significant differences were found; that means that humour can help if a manager does not have much experience as it in the case with young managers.

Keywords

EN

manager; psychological climate; sense of humour

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Signum Temporis
• Year: 2010
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 51-62

Dates

published

2010-03-01

online

2011-10-20

Contributors

author

Jānis Roze

• Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy, Latvia

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10195-011-0034-5