Who doesn’t love someone with a sense of humor? According to research published in Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, when we do stop loving partners with this prized trait, moving on can be no joke.
Researchers surveyed 392 participants on their relationships, their emotions after a breakup, and how they coped. Women reported taking more time to get over a partner with a great sense of humor. After the breakup, the same women were also more likely to make contact with their ex, as opposed to those who reported having less jocular partners.
Meanwhile, men reported experiencing more sexual frustration than women. That women took longer to move on stands as seemingly odd, given that women are more likely to be the ones to end a relationship, all around the board. Likewise, women reported feeling happier after breakups – even the same ones who took longer to move on.
It makes sense that a sense of humor is a prized trait in a romantic partner: it can be a great proxy for other valuable traits such as friendliness, open mindedness, humility, and even resilience against tough times. So if you’re having a hard time moving on from your funny guy/gal ex, know that you’re not alone.
