Sense of humor matters more to most Pinoys than good looks or wealth – SWS survey

For Filipinos, having a sense of humor gets you a better chance at love, than having just good looks.

 

This was the consistent element of the findings of a survey by pollster Social Weather Stations that found nine of 10 Filipinos prefer a sense of humor over good looks.

 

SWS, which released the results of its Dec. 11-16 survey two days before Valentine's Day, said nine of 10 adult Filipinos choose "A man/woman who is ugly/unattractive but can make you laugh or has sense of humor."

 

Only 10 percent chose "a man/woman who is good-looking but has no sense of humor," it added.

 

The December 2013 survey interviewed of 1,550 adults including 300 in Metro Manila, 300 in Balance of Luzon, 650 in Visayas, and 300 in Mindanao.

 

Sampling error margins of ±2.5% for national percentages, ±4% for Visayas, and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao applied to the survey.

 

Respondents in the survey were asked "Alin sa dalawang pangungusap na ito ang mas pipiliin mo? [Which of these two statements will you choose?]."

 

SWS said 90 percent chose "Isang lalaki/babae na pangit pero napapatawa ka o may sense of humor [A man/woman who is ugly/unattractive but can make you laugh or has sense of humor]."

 

Only 10 percent chose "Isang lalaki/babae na gwapo/maganda pero walang sense of humor [A man/woman who is good-looking but has no sense of humor]."

 

By geography

 

Filipinos' preference of a sense of humor over good looks prevailed in all areas, the SWS said.

 

It said nine out of 10 respondents in all areas chose sense of humor, even if that person is unattractive.

 

This included 92 percent in Metro Manila, 90 percent in Balance Luzon, 90 percent in the Visayas, and 88 percent in Mindanao.

 

By locale, 91 percent in overall rural areas chose sense of humor, while it was 89 percent in overall urban areas.

 

Stronger preference for humor among classes D, E

 

The SWS said 90 percent of those in Class D and 91 percent in Class E chose a sense of humor over good looks. This was 79 percent in Class ABC.

 

On the other hand, 20 percent of respondents from Class ABC, and nine percent from Classes D and E chose good looks but lacking in sense of humor.

 

More women than men prefer sense of humor

 

More women prefer a sense of humor over good looks compared to men, at 94 percent to 86 percent.

 

Only 13 percent of men and six percent of women chose good looks.

 

Also, men in Class ABC tend to prefer good looks more than those in Classes D and E, SWS said.

 

Preference for sense of humor over good looks was "dominant in all sex and classes, more men in the upper classes prefer good looks than their lower class counterparts," SWS said.

 

The SWS also said 90 percent of men among Class E, 87 percent of men in Class D, and 65 percent of men among Class ABC prefer a sense of humor over good looks.

 

On the other hand, 35 percent of men from Class ABC, 12 percent among Class D and 10 percent among Class E preferred good looks over sense of humor.

 

Among women, SWS said preference for sense of humor over good looks did not vary by class - 94 percent among Class D, and 93 percent among Classes ABC and E.

 

Preference for sense of humor among those with less formal education

 

In terms of educational attainment, a stronger preference for humor came from those with less formal education, SWS said.

 

The SWS said 94 percent of elementary graduates, 92 percent of those with some elementary education, and 89 percent of high school graduates and 81 percent of college graduates preferred sense of humor over good looks.

 

Meanwhile, those who preferred good looks included 18 percent of college graduates, 10 percent of high school graduates, seven percent among those with at most some elementary education and six percent among elementary graduates.

 

Stronger preference for good looks among men with more formal education

 

The survey found those with more formal education, especially the men, had a strong preference for looks.

 

SWS said this was the sentiment among 28 percent of college graduates, 15 percent of high school graduates, and eight percent among both elementary graduates and those with at most some elementary education.

 

"Among women, preference for sense of humor was consistently high across education, ranging from 89 to 96 percent," it said.

 

Preference for sense of humor across civil status

 

SWS said preference for a sense of humor was dominant across civil status.

 

It said 14 percent of singles preferred good looks compared to eight percent of those who are in a committed relationship.

 

Those in a committed relationship include those with partners and those who are married.

 

SWS said single men had the highest preference for good looks at 18 percent, compared to 12 percent of married men and 10 percent of men with partners.

 

Among women, preference for sense of humor was 95 percent among those who are married, 93 percent among those with partners, and 89 percent among singles. — ELR, GMA News