PH
Humor can communicate information beyond simply “this person makes me laugh.”
Across six experiments, researchers manipulated how funny a potential dating partner appeared.
Funny partners were consistently perceived as having greater creative ingenuity.
That perception helped explain why humorous partners became more desirable for different kinds of relationships.
Participants were even more interested in doing a creativity-requiring first-date activity with the funny partner.
Your joke might therefore communicate something your date never consciously realizes they're evaluating: how creatively your mind works.
© Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2025)