Groningers give a great deal of importance to humor, according to a new poll to reveal the joke-loving capitals of the country.
The birthplace of Wim Schippers and Arjen Lubach took the top spot in the study by Utrecht University psychologist Madelijn Strick in collaboration with television program Het Klokhuis. Seventy percent of all respondents from Groningen indicated that ‘Humor is important in my life.’
The research also shows that men attach more importance to humor than women. “This is very easy to explain; other studies have come to the same conclusion,” Ms Strick says. “Consider, for example, dating. Women want men who will tell jokes, but men don’t find funny women attractive. However they do appreciate a woman who laughs at their jokes.”
Friesland, which has given us the likes of Teake van der Meer, came second.
Commissioned to determine the role of humor in everyday life and whether or not it is essential to TV programming, the poll found the typical adult in the two northern provinces gives laughs and giggles an average importance score of 4.7 on a scale of 5.
The research – entitled ‘Don’t make me laugh!’ – started at the beginning of last October and will continue until June 2023. The University of Utrecht is still looking for Groningen residents between the ages of 8 and 100 who might want to take part in the ongoing project.
If you are interested in participating in the research study, click here to fill out the online screening form.
