Self-Defeating Humor Test: Are You The Punchline?

Is your humor hurting your self-esteem?

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | Last Updated: March 19, 2026

The Self-Defeating Humor Test is designed to explore how you use comedy in your daily interactions and whether it serves as a mask for underlying insecurities. While being able to laugh at oneself is often seen as a strength, relying on self-deprecation to gain approval can negatively impact your emotional health. This assessment helps you identify if your humor style is self-defeating rather than self-enhancing. For a broader look at your self-perception, you might also consider taking our Impostor Syndrome Scale.

Take The Self-Defeating Humor Test

For each statement, indicate how much you agree. For best results, answer honestly and trust your first instinct.

1. In my social circle, I often seem to be the target of other people's jokes or teasing.

2. I frequently allow others to joke at my expense or mock me more than I probably should.

3. I often get carried away with criticizing myself if it makes my friends or family laugh.

4. I tend to highlight my own flaws or blunders in a funny way to get people to accept me.

5. I frequently make jokes that disparage or belittle myself.

6. When trying to be funny, I often go too far in putting myself down.

7. I often use humor to cover up my problems or unhappiness so that others don't know how I really feel.

Now, enter your demographics to see how you stack up against others.

First Name

Age

Gender

Region

References

Inspired by work by Martin, R. A., Puhlik-Doris, P., Larsen, G., Gray, J., & Weir, K. (2003). Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the Humor Styles Questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 37(1), 48–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00534-2