A closer look
Making people laugh is often a highly sophisticated defense mechanism dressed up as entertainment. Psychologists categorize humor into four distinct styles, and the darkest is "self-defeating humor." Used famously by stand-up comedians and the deeply anxious, this coping mechanism involves tearing yourself down before anyone else gets the chance. By preemptively making a joke out of their own flaws, failures, or traumas, individuals take the sting out of social rejection. It's a brilliantly cynical psychological shield: you can't be hurt by the crowd if you are already the one holding the knife.
