The four humor styles
In 2003, psychologist Rod Martin and his team created the Humor Styles Questionnaire, which describes four ways of using humor: affiliative (to connect with others), self-enhancing (to stay positive when things go wrong), aggressive (teasing or sarcasm at others' expense) and self-defeating (laughing at yourself to be accepted).
Research links affiliative and self-enhancing humor to greater well-being and better relationships. Aggressive and self-defeating humor can be very funny too, but in excess they can hurt others or your own self-esteem.