Scholars from various disciplines have studied humor since antiquity. Yet, over the centuries, these researchers have also struggled to conceptualize a viable, well-accepted notion of humor. Beyond pleasure and amusement, people use humor for a variety of social functions. On the one hand, humor can cause others to like the humorous source more, attract regard, ease conversations, promote expression and the exchange of ideas, introduce new topics of discussion, or smooth interactions. On the other hand, in aggressive forms, humor can halt verbal interactions, modify the usual rules of conversation, communicate critiques, or contribute to the creation of subversive environments.
Not All Claps and Cheers: Humor in Business and Society Relationships is an original research anthology that considers different angles from which to address the use of humor by individuals, groups and business actors in their interactions within, around, and across organizations―that is, at the interfaces of business and society. Accordingly, the research anthology is organized in four sections―"Humor, Business and Society," "From Society to Business: Humor’s Use and Roles in Activist Movements," "From Business to Society: Humor’s Use and Roles in Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Public Relations," and "Society within Business: Humor’s Use and Roles in the Workplace and in Organizations."
This ground-breaking research anthology draws on material from marketing, communications, human resources and stakeholder theory to throw light on this poorly understood facet of human business behavior.
Dr François Maon is Associate Professor of Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility at the IESEG School of Management, with a Ph.D. from the Louvain School of Management. He is widely published in academic journals and books including A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. Dr Adam Lindgreen is Professor of Marketing at Cardiff Business School, with a Ph.D. from Cranfield University. He is widely published, in academic journals and books including Managing Market Relationships and A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. Dr Joëlle Vanhamme is Professor of Marketing at Edhec Business School with a Ph.D. from the Louvain School of Management. She is widely published in academic journals and books including Memorable Customer Experiences and A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. Robert J. Angell is a lecturer in Cardiff Business School researching in the areas of business sponsorship and ethical consumerism, but enjoys also looking at quirky and unusual aspects of consumer behaviour. He has a strong interest in methodological innovations and advanced techniques when studying social/market phenomena. Juliet Memery joined Bournemouth University as Professor in Marketing in 2013. Before coming to Bournemouth she was Associate Professor and Marketing & Entrepreneurship Group Leader at Plymouth University. Her research interests lie in the areas of consumer behaviour, decision making in relation to consumer choice, ethical shopping, and food and drink research, particularly in relation to local and regional produce, sustainable food, and food waste. Juliet is a member of the British Academy of Management and track chair for marketing and retail (2013), and current external examiner at Henley Business School for (MBA) Reputation and Responsibility.
