According to researchers, humor comes in four types. Which of these you lean towards can act as a window into your psychological well-being.
Yet not all types of humor — and by extension, their effects on your well-being — are alike. 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
Your unique sense of humor is likely a blend of these four styles, but many people tend to lean in a particular direction. And each style carries its own advantages, and disadvantages, when it comes to mental health. By contrast, both aggressive and self-defeating humor styles can signal trouble. “We find that those individuals are more likely to self-harm,” says Schermer. "Personally, I would argue that self-defeating humor is the most concerning style as it is also linked with