Generation Z: Complexity Within Absurdity

Researcher

Alexander Bediones

AP Scholar - Class of 2024 - FCCLA Secretary Chapter Officer

Contact: xlbediones@gmail.com

Research Question

Is a generation’s collective sense of humor a product of the perceived world they live in?

And if so, what is the correlation between generational worldview and humor?

Problem Statement

I am working on addressing the question:

“Is a generation’s collective sense of humor a product of the perceived world they live in?”

I believe I can showcase a correlation between generational worldview and humor by analyzing the content posted on social media by both Millennials and Generation Z, allowing researchers to analyze the trend and predict the direction that Generation Alpha may follow. Generation Alpha recently becoming present on the internet brings up the idea that there is a generation born into a mostly entirely digital age, as the oldest Gen Alpha would be about 13, and the content that they post online is unique and undefined. There is a noticeable trend of different responses among generations through the outlet of humor, specifically on online platforms. Millennials often demonstrate their nihilistic humor through growing up in times of tragedy such as 9/11. In contrast to this, Gen Z experiences the after-effects of a world that has already experienced it and showcases absurdist humor. A naturalistic observational study of a qualitative correlational analysis may bridge the gap of understanding between generations.

Hypothesis

There is a correlation between worldview and humor, and this will be demonstrated by the analysis of a generation's perspective of the world and the humor they share through online content.

Method of Inquiry

Cohort Comparative Analysis

A qualitative correlation of analysis between the content of the different generational cohorts through a naturalistic observational study.

Significance

Values of this study include:

This research inquiry contains value and is significant as it furthers the understanding of the uprising youth that will continue to lead the future of society, as preceding generations have done upon their arrival, especially within the workforce and now the digital age
This research inquiry can aim to bridge the understanding between older and newer generations and allow the capability of predictions of the influence of future generations such as Generation Alpha.

WHAT IS HUMOR?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines humor as “that quality of action, speech, or writing which excites amusement; oddity, jocularity, facetiousness, comicality, fun.” It goes on to say that humor is also “the faculty of perceiving what is ludicrous or amusing, or of expressing it in speech, writing, or other composition; jocose imagination or treatment of a subject” (Simpson and Weiner, 1989, p. 486). It is evident from these definitions that humor is a broad term that refers to anything that people say or do that is perceived as funny and tends to make others laugh, as well as the mental processes that go into both creating and perceiving such an amusing stimulus and also the affective response involved in the enjoyment of it. From a psychological perspective, the humor process can be divided into four essential components: (1) a social context, (2) a cognitive-perceptual process, (3) an emotional response, and (4) the vocal-behavioral expression of laughter.

Dr. Rod A. Martin & Thomas E. Ford - The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach

Findings & Implications

The content posted to social media platforms is analyzed for potential trends, similarities, and differences among the two cohorts.

Both cohorts demonstrated similar types of humor consisting of:

Irony: the speaker expresses a statement in which the literal meaning is opposite to the intended meaning
Absurdity: Emphasis on ridiculousness, pushing normally accepted realities to nonsense extremes

Implications of the study indicate:

Worldview is not a sole defining factor when considering resulting humor.
Future researchers may be able to identify factors in which generations are far more similar to each in.

Conclusion

Humor is nuanced and shrouded in layers of depth.

Studying potential sources including but also expanding beyond worldview would be beneficial towards understanding factors correlating with humor.
Generational worldview may only be a partial contributing factor towards behavior.

Throughout the process of this study, I had explored the relationship and or correlation that would be present between the concept of humor and a generation’s perceived view of the world through the means of a naturalistic observational study and a qualitative comparative cohort analysis. My methods, process, and approach had been developed by attempting to identify what factors may or may not correlate with a generation’s view of the world. The data resulting from this research project had ultimately refuted the initial hypothesis claiming that generational worldview would have a correlation towards the humor of content that was posted to online social media platforms. It was however still significant to attempt to fulfill this gap as there is a severe lack of research dedicated to generations and its correlation to behavior through the means of humor. My research inquiry of “Is a generation’s collective sense of humor a product of the perceived world they live in? And if so, what is the correlation between generational worldview and humor?” had allowed me to further investigate two pieces of information within the social psychology field of knowledge and attempt to pair them together through comparative analysis and determine whether there was a correlation present or not. Ultimately, I hope that this paper will be bound to add to the overall body of knowledge regarding both the concept of humor and generational research for future researchers to expand upon as a whole in both the near and distant future.

Key Sources

Martin, R. A. (2018). The psychology of humor: An integrative approach. Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier.
Declercq, D. (2020). Irony, Disruption and Moral Imperfection. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 23(3-4), 545+. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10677-020-10105-z
Cox, D. A., Hammond, K. E., & Gray, K. P. (2023). Generation Z and the Transformation of American Adolescence: How Gen Z's Formative Experiences Shape Its Politics, Priorities, and Future. In AEI Paper & Studies (p. COV2+). American Enterprise Institute. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A780130049/AONE?u=bonn54603&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=50372f85

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