![]() ![]() "Personally, I would argue that self-defeating humor is the most concerning style as it is also linked with loneliness and feelings of not mattering. “We find that those individuals are more likely to self-harm,” says Schermer. Beyond that, people who use self-enhancing humor are less likely to show signs of depression, loneliness and poor relationships with others.īy contrast, both aggressive and self-defeating humor styles can signal trouble. “People who engage in that type of humor can cheer themselves up by thinking about positive or funny events experiences,” she says. Julie Aitken Schermer, a psychological researcher at The University of Western Ontario, says that humor that is self-focused, adaptive and positive - otherwise known as self-enhancing - can be a particular psychological boon. (You can even see for yourself which type you gravitate toward.) And each style carries its own advantages, and disadvantages, when it comes to mental health. Your unique sense of humor is likely a blend of these four styles, but many people tend to lean in a particular direction. For example, this type of humor might be used by someone who's targeted by bullies - effectively pre-empting the mockery of themselves before it's inflicted by someone else. ![]() In other words, making yourself the butt of the joke. Self-defeating humor is the art of putting yourself down to gain approval from your peers. Think insult comedians like Jeff Ross or the late Don Rickles (known for roasting Frank Sinatra and other celebrities on TV). It often involves sarcasm, teasing, ridicule and criticism. Good-naturedly recounting that time you spilled red wine all over the tablecloth at a fancy dinner would certainly apply.Īggressive humor is, well, laughing at the expense of others. It's often used as a way to cope with stress or hardship and feel better as a result. Self-enhancing humor involves being able to laugh at yourself and life's absurdities. If you've ever shared a ridiculous meme with a coworker or bantered among your friends, you've used affiliative humor. It's usually employed to facilitate relationships or make others laugh. The assessment gauges how people use humor in their daily lives, breaking it down into four distinct styles:Īffiliative humor refers to jokes about things that might be considered universally funny. In 2003, to better distinguish which types of humor promote mental wellness, and which forms may be actively harmful, psychologist Rod Martin and his colleagues developed the Humor Styles Questionnaire. Yet not all types of humor - and by extension, their effects on your well-being - are alike. It can even be a balm against the psychological toll of death and dying. More recently, scientists have shown that positive humor can offer protection against symptoms of anxiety and depression. In his 1905 book, Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, Sigmund Freud argued that humor is the highest of the psyche's defense mechanisms, capable of turning anxiety into pleasure. The idea that laughter is the best medicine has been around since biblical times. It’s well understood that humor can have powerful impacts on both our physical and mental health. A bulk of this research is focused on what our humor preferences might say about us as individuals - and particularly what they suggest about our mental health. In recent decades, psychologists and other researchers have investigated various aspects of humor styles. You’ve likely heard the old adage that comedy is subjective: Different people find different things humorous. Then there’s just some things that almost anyone would find funny, like the recent viral mishap where a lawyer unwittingly appeared as a kitten during a virtual court proceeding. Others might take a more antagonistic approach, preferring jokes that involve insulting someone else. For some people, hearing a friend wryly recount how they almost face-planted on the sidewalk might do it. What makes you laugh the hardest? We’re talking side-splitting, spittle-spraying, I-can’t-breathe laughter here. ![]()
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