Pii: S0378-2166(99)00069-7

Humor can serve numerous functions in discourse. This paper provides a tool for categorizing functions of humor, and uses this tool to highlight statistically some interesting patterns in the humor of New Zealand men and women. The humor occurring in 18 New Zealand friendship groups was analyzed according to function and these functions were organized into a taxonomy. Functions of humor occurring in such groups can be classified under the three broad labels of solidarity-based, power-based and psychological functions. Further distinctions within these labels are also made. The distribution of these functions within the friendship groups was analyzed. The sample consisted of both mixed groups and male and female single-sex groups. Log-linear modelling revealed the women much more likely to share funny personal stories to create solidarity, whereas the men used other strategies to achieve the same goal. They were more likely to reminisce about shared experiences or highlight similarities to create solidarity within the group. While teasing was used in single-sex groups both to create power and solidarity, this behavior reduced markedly in mixed groups. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.