Preface
xiii
Chapter 1.Introduction
1
1.1Humour in The Office: An example
2
1.2Studying mental models relating to The
Office
8
1.3
The Office, reception and format
11
1.4
The Office as the object of research
13
1.5Summary of the main arguments of this chapter
19
Chapter 2.Constructing mental models
21
2.1Mental models and watching a sitcom
22
2.2The structure of situations
25
2.3Background knowledge and mental models
30
2.4Human nature and mental-model construction
31
2.4.1Pattern recognition
32
2.4.2Normality and expectations
35
2.4.3Sociality
37
2.4.4Play
38
2.4.5Mind-reading
40
2.5Culture and mental-model construction
43
2.6Personality and mental-model construction
46
2.7Summary of the main arguments of this chapter
47
Chapter 3.Properties of mental models
49
3.1Public mental models and private mental models
50
3.2Mental models are subjective and selective
53
3.3The possible settings in mental models
53
3.4Zooming in and zooming out in mental models
55
3.5Mental models are not exclusively cognitive
56
3.6Mental models are hypothetical and dynamic
57
3.7Mental models include the mental models of others (higher-order
intentionality)
60
3.8Mental models can be related to each other
61
3.8.1Co-ordinating public mental models
62
3.8.2Relating private mental models to public mental models
63
3.8.3Relating private mental models to each other
66
3.9Mental models can be an object of play
67
3.10Summary of the main arguments of this chapter
67
Chapter 4.Mental models and The Office
69
4.1Situational contexts and levels of interaction
69
4.1.1Setting
70
4.1.2Interactants and communicative roles
71
4.1.3Expectations and normative behaviour
74
4.2Bridging communicative levels
75
4.3The camera crew
76
4.4Summary of the main arguments of this chapter
79
Chapter 5.Humour theories and mental models (1)
81
5.1Communicative intent, manipulative intent and humorous intent
81
5.2Mental models and superiority theories
84
5.3Mental models and relief theories
91
5.4Mental models and incongruity theories
97
5.5Summary of the main arguments of this chapter
104
Chapter 6.Humour theories and mental models (2)
107
6.1General Theory of Verbal Humour
107
6.2Humour as the detection of false beliefs
110
6.3Play theories
113
6.4Interactionist approaches
119
6.5Psychological reversal theory
121
6.6Summary: Mental models and humour
124
Chapter 7.Playing with private mental models
127
7.1Private mental models and levels 1 and 2
128
7.2Setting
129
7.2.1Humorously intended manipulations of spaces and props on level
1
132
7.2.2Humorously intended manipulation of spaces and props on level
2
133
7.2.3Non-humorously intended manipulation of spaces and props on level
2
136
7.2.4Humorously intended manipulation of time on level 1
142
7.2.5Humorously intended manipulations of time on level 2
142
7.2.6Non-humorously intended manipulations of time on level 2
143
7.3Interactants
144
7.3.1Humorously intended manipulations of interactants on level 1 –
the camera crew and the talking heads
145
7.3.2Non-humorously intended manipulations in communicative roles on
level 2
146
7.3.3Humorously intended manipulations of communicative roles on level
2
147
7.4Social roles as professional roles
148
7.4.1Humorously intended manipulations of professional roles on level
1
148
7.4.2Non-humorously intended manipulations of professional roles on
level 2
149
7.4.3Humorously intended manipulations of professional roles on level
2
153
7.5Expectations
154
7.5.1Humorously intended manipulations of expectancies on level
1
155
7.5.2Non-humorously intended manipulation of expectancies on level
2
156
7.5.3Humorously intended manipulations of expectancies on level
2
159
7.6Normative behaviour
160
7.6.1Humorously intended non-normative behaviour and behavioural
residue on level 1
160
7.6.2Non-humorously intended non-normative behaviour on level
2
161
7.6.3Humorously intended non-normative behaviour on level 2
163
7.7Summary of the main arguments of this chapter
165
Chapter 8.Playing with presenting public mental models
167
8.1Diminishments in public mental models – characters in a telic
meta-motivational state
167
8.1.1Public mental model does not reflect private mental model
168
8.1.2Public mental model reflects private mental model, but private
mental model is unstable or incoherent
172
8.1.3Public mental model reflects private mental model, but public
mental model is inappropriate
176
8.1.4Public mental model is inappropriate, but private mental model is
difficult to re-construct
181
8.1.5Public mental model reveals private mental model to an
unauthorised audience
183
8.1.6Public mental model lacks relevance
185
8.1.7Public mental model contains inappropriately designated
elements
187
8.2Diminishments in public mental models – characters in a para-telic
meta-motivational state
189
8.2.1Mock mental models with inappropriately or incorrectly designated
elements of the situational context
190
8.2.2Mock mental models with inappropriate assessments (irony)
192
8.2.3(Mock) humorous intent
193
8.2.4Mock mental model lacks plausibility and/or creativity
193
8.2.5Mock public mental models presented by lifeless objects
195
8.3Summary of the main arguments in this chapter
195
Chapter 9.Playing with negotiating public mental models
197
9.1Diminishments in the co-ordination of public mental models –
characters in a telic meta-motivational state
197
9.1.1Managing access rights
198
9.1.2Finding a conversation topic
203
9.1.3Mind-reading
205
9.1.4Manipulative intent
208
9.1.5Overlap claims
212
9.1.6Mock co-operation
213
9.1.7Sabotage
216
9.1.8Lack of helpfulness as a display of power
217
9.1.9Lack of helpfulness as a display of a lack of interest
221
9.1.10Zooming in and out
223
9.2Diminishments in the co-ordination of public mental models –
Characters in different meta-motivational states
224
9.2.1Characters pretend to be in a telic state while in a para-telic
state
225
9.2.2Characters pretend to be in a para-telic state while in a telic
state
228
9.2.3Characters reverse from a para-telic state to a telic
state
228
9.2.4Characters have opposite reversals
230
9.2.5Characters discuss a joke in a telic state – plus an
inappropriate reversal
231
9.2.6Character in para-telic state, but mock mental model may reflect
private mental model
233
9.2.7Character and some interactants in a para-telic state; butt and
other interactants in a telic state
234
9.3Diminishments in the co-ordination of public mental models –
Characters in a para-telic meta-motivational state
235
9.3.1Character’s mock mental model is not supported
236
9.3.2Character fails in maintaining a para-telic meta-motivational
state
237
9.3.3Mock mental models are contrived and lack plausibility
239
9.3.4Lack of common ground
239
9.3.5Dispute of ownership
240
9.3.6The consequences of failed humour
241
9.4Summary of the main arguments in this chapter
242
Chapter 10.Character personalities
245
10.1Social roles and role identities
245
10.2Role identities in interaction, interactional roles
248
10.3The social role of managers in British business and the characters’
role identities
249
10.4Role identities at Wernham Hogg
251
10.4.1Neil, the successful orderly organizer
253
10.4.2Brent, the unsuccessful inspirational
coach
255
10.4.3The price of incompetence
260
10.4.4Gareth, the unsuccessful orderly organiser
261
10.4.5Tim and Dawn, the perspective of English-style common
sense
262
10.5Summary of the main arguments in this chapter
266
Chapter 11.Concluding remarks
267
11.1Mental model theory and humour studies
267
11.2Mental model theory and discourse
271
11.3Mental model theory and situations
273
References
277
Index
295