 Humor, Gossip, and Other Possibly Invidious Forms of Communication (“Me Too”)Wilfred Dolfsma Journal of Economic Issues, 2025, vol. 59, issue 2, 638-645 Abstract: Communication can, roughly, take two forms. It can either be instrumental, or intended for transmitting information to ensure the organization can properly function. In addition, one may distinguish within an organization communication with a social purpose. Social communication can be positive and energizing for all, or it can be invidious. Humor tends to be seen as positive social communication, but certainly need not be. Social communication is intended—explicitly or implicitly—to start or change (end) a relationship that exists between two or more individuals inside an organization. Being able to engage in social communication, and in humor most incisively, is constitutive of what it means to be a member of a community or an organization. This research note presents a way of representing the social in social communication somewhat formalistically to help understand the dynamics that can be involved in social communication as allegiances shift. Power balances in organizations and society at large are reflected in how different players communicate, with what target in mind, and with what level of mutuality is involved. Date: 2025 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mes:jeciss:v:59:y:2025:i:2:p:638-645 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from DOI: 10.1080/00213624.2025.2493589 Access Statistics for this article More articles in Journal of Economic Issues from Taylor & Francis Journals |
Is your work missing from RePEc? Here is how to contribute.
Questions or problems? Check the EconPapers FAQ or send mail to .
EconPapers is hosted by the
School of Business at Örebro University.