Uses and Gratifications Theory

Uses and gratifications theory is a theory within the field of communication focusing on the individual. The premise states that people look for and select media content, including humorous content, hoping that it will satisfy a specific necessity. These media uses will then have different consequences for different individuals. The theory attempts to answer questions such as why people choose to access humorous content from a vast array of media content available, and what are some of the intended consequences of such media consumption. This entry provides a definition for the theory of uses and gratifications as it relates to humor, contextualizes it within the field of communication, examines the specific motivations and consequences for the use of humorous content, and explains how recent technological ...