Humor Styles Questionnaire

Abstract

The Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) is a widely utilized self-report instrument designed to measure individual differences in the habitual ways people use humor. Developed within the field of positive psychology, the HSQ posits four distinct dimensions of humor usage, categorized based on whether the humor is benevolent or detrimental, and whether it is directed toward the self or others. This instrument is crucial for research exploring the psychological benefits and costs associated with various humor styles, linking them to outcomes such as well-being, coping mechanisms, and interpersonal relationships.

The scale typically consists of 32 items, rated on a 7-point Likert scale, and is scored across the four principal factors: Affiliative, Self-enhancing, Aggressive, and Self-defeating humor.

Keywords

Humor Styles Questionnaire, HSQ, Humor, Affiliative Humor, Self-enhancing Humor, Aggressive Humor, Self-defeating Humor, Well-being, Coping, Psychometrics

Authors

Rod A. Martin, Patricia Puhlik-Doris, George Larsen, Kristine Gray, & Suzanne Weir (Original Conceptualization)

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Humor Styles Questionnaire is to provide a psychometrically sound measure of how individuals habitually employ humor in their daily lives. The instrument operationalizes a theoretical framework that differentiates between four specific styles, allowing researchers to explore the differential impacts of adaptive versus maladaptive humor on psychological adjustment and social interaction.

The scale helps distinguish between humor used to facilitate social relationships (Affiliative), manage personal stress (Self-enhancing), criticize others (Aggressive), or excessively criticize oneself (Self-defeating). Understanding these styles is vital for clinical and personality research.

Construct

The HSQ measures the construct of Humor Styles, which are conceptualized along two dimensions: positive vs. negative effects, and self-focused vs. other-focused targets. This results in four primary constructs:

• Affiliative Humor: Characterized by the use of humor to amuse others, facilitate relationships, and reduce interpersonal tension. This is generally considered a positive, other-focused style.
• Self-enhancing Humor: Involves maintaining a humorous outlook on life, even during adversity, and using humor as a healthy coping mechanism to regulate emotion. This is a positive, self-focused style.
• Aggressive Humor: Defined by the use of sarcasm, teasing, ridicule, or disparagement aimed at others. This style often disregards the feelings of others and is considered negative and other-focused.
• Self-defeating Humor: Involves excessive self-disparagement, allowing others to laugh at one’s expense, and using humor to hide negative emotions or seek acceptance. This style is considered negative and self-focused.

Validity

The validity of the HSQ has been extensively supported through numerous studies demonstrating its structural integrity and its predictive power regarding psychological outcomes. Construct validity is evidenced by the consistent four-factor structure observed across diverse samples, aligning with the theoretical model proposed by the authors.

Furthermore, criterion validity is established by the differential correlations of the four humor styles with various personality traits and mental health indicators. For example, Affiliative and Self-enhancing humor typically correlate positively with measures of self-esteem, positive affect, and life satisfaction, while Aggressive and Self-defeating humor often correlate positively with indicators of hostility, anxiety, and depression.

Reliability

The HSQ demonstrates strong internal consistency and temporal stability across its four subscales. The original source data provides the following reliability coefficients:

• Internal Consistency (measured by Cronbach’s Alpha):
  • Affiliative: 0.80
  • Self-enhancing: 0.81
  • Aggressive: 0.77
  • Self-defeating: 0.80
• Temporal Stability (measured by Test-retest reliability):
  • Affiliative: 0.85
  • Self-enhancing: 0.81
  • Aggressive: 0.80
  • Self-defeating: 0.82

These high coefficients confirm that the subscales reliably measure stable, distinct humor styles over time and that the items within each subscale are highly correlated.

Factor Analysis

The underlying structure of the HSQ was confirmed using Factor analysis, which supported the hypothesized four-factor solution. This procedure demonstrated that the 32 items cluster cleanly into four distinct, yet related, dimensions corresponding to the four humor styles (Affiliative, Self-enhancing, Aggressive, and Self-defeating).

The original factor analysis studies indicated that these four factors account for a significant portion of the variance in humor usage behaviors, validating the conceptual model that humor functions can be parsed based on their social target and motivational intent. This robust factor structure is critical for the scale’s application in cross-cultural research.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire / Psychometric Scale

Format: 32 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Totally Disagree, 7 = Totally Agree)

Language Available: English (Original), widely translated into numerous languages (e.g., German, Spanish, Chinese, Turkish)

Population Group: General population, primarily adolescents and adults

Age Group: Typically 16 years and older

Population Details: Used extensively in college student samples, clinical populations, and diverse community samples globally for personality and coping research.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their agreement with each statement. Scoring involves summing or averaging item responses for each of the four subscales. Scoring keys for the 32-item version are:

• Affiliative (items 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21 and 29; Note: some items may be reversed scored)
• Self-enhancing (items 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22 and 30)
• Aggressive (items 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, and 31)
• Self-defeating (items 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 32)

A shortened 16-item version also exists, using different scoring methods:

• Put-down humor: Start with the numeral 14 and add answers for questions 1 and 9, then subtract responses to questions 5 and 15.
• Bonding humor: Start with the numeral 7 and add answers for questions 3 and 10, then subtract responses to questions 6 and 14.
• Hate-me humor: Add answers to questions 2, 12, 13 and 16.
• Laughing at life: Start with the numeral 3. Add answers for questions 4, 7 and 8, then subtract response to question 11.

Interpretation for the 16-item version suggests that scores above 17 are high, 11-17 are average, and 11 or under are low.

Keywords

Psychological assessment, Personality, Coping styles, Positive psychology, Sarcasm, Self-disparagement, Questionnaire

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Humor Styles Questionnaire is commonly used for non-commercial academic research without fees, though permission should be sought from the primary author(s) for extensive use or modification. The original instrument was developed and published in 2003. The instrument text itself has appeared in various popular and academic publications, including a version published in Psychology Today Magazine in July/August 2006.

Reference’s

Martin, R. A., Puhlik-Doris, P., Larsen, G., Gray, K., & Weir, S. (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.

Heintz, S., & Ruch, W. (2013). (Reference cited in source content, likely related to validation or translation).

The instrument can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223437499

Items of the Humor Styles Questionnaire

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.