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Self-Enhancing Humor Style Scale

Do you always look for funny silver linings on dark days? Discover if you have a 'self-enhancing humor style' and how to look on the bright side of life.

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

January 8, 2024

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.

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Self-enhancing humor acts as a radiant brushstroke that paints life's quirks with a delightful hue. This humor style revolves around the ability to take a step back, find the silver lining in challenges and revel in life's idiosyncrasies. Self-enhancing humor serves to transform setbacks into opportunities for laughter and personal growth, embodying the philosophy that a good laugh can be the best companion on life's unpredictable journey.

Recognizing and cultivating self-enhancing humor allows individuals to navigate life's twists and turns with resilience and a positive outlook. It's not just about seeing the glass as half full; it's about embracing a mindset that turns hurdles into stepping stones. Self-enhancing humor can be an adaptive coping mechanism that goes beyond the surface, influencing emotional well-being and fostering a mindset that finds joy in every twist of the adventure.

The Humor Style Questionnaire guides users through self-enhancing humor and its three companions: affiliative, aggressive and self-defeating humor. It unveils our personal comedic inclinations, allowing us to gain deeper insights into the unique blend of humor styles that shapes the way we navigate life's missteps.

You can take this test here. Please follow all of the steps to receive your results.

References: 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, (2003)37. 48-75. doi:S0092-6566(02)00534-2

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. If I am feeling depressed, I can usually cheer myself up with humor.

2. Even when I’m by myself, I’m often amused by the absurdities of life.

3. If I am feeling upset or unhappy, I usually try to think of something funny about the situation to make myself feel better.

4. My humorous outlook on life keeps me from getting overly upset or depressed about things.

5. If I’m by myself and I’m feeling unhappy, I make an effort to think of something funny to cheer myself up.

6. If I am feeling sad or upset, I don’t usually lose my sense of humor.

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Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.