The article considers the possibility of using the word as a unit of psychological analysis of fictional texts. The word is understood as a psychological instrument of personal regulation and socialization of personality. The semantic structure of the word in objective and subjective reality is constructed. It is assumed that the types and levels of existence of a word in subjective reality are a sign, a concept and a symbol. In the objective — the sign, the meaning and the name. Using the example of the usage of words associated with the word “humor”, the dynamics and dialectics of mutual transitions of various forms of psychological existence of the word are described. It is proved that the comprehension of the word “humor” and those close to it in the history of poetry led to the “cultivation” of laughter, and the perception of poetic texts contributes to the socialization of personality and the appropriation of cultural standards of humor by it.