When Humor Backfires: The Impact of Expectancy Violations in Human-Computer Interaction

Humor in human-computer interaction (HCI) can enhance user engagement but also lead to negative experiences if misaligned with user expectations. This study investigates how different humor types (affiliative and aggressive), interact with the functional context of technological artifacts (e.g., entertainment vs. security devices) to influence user trust and usage intentions. Drawing on Expectancy Violation Theory (EVT), two experiments demonstrate that humor types mismatched with the device’s perceived role elicit negative expectancy violations, reducing both human-like and system-like trust, as well as user intention. Findings suggest that the effective integration of humor in HCI should consider the artifact’s function to prevent adverse effects on user perceptions and interactions. These insights are critical for designing user-centric technologies that incorporate humor without compromising user trust and engagement.