# Humor in Crisis: A Hidden Stress Signal

> People who joke during tense moments often avoid facing stress, not easing it.
- Title: Humor in Crisis: A Hidden Stress Signal · Psychologies
- Summary: People who joke during tense moments often avoid facing stress, not easing it. Self-deprecating humor during crises masks anxiety, not reducing tension.
- Keywords: self-deprecating humor, stress avoidance, anxiety, psychological research, humor styles, covid-19, psychology, Humor, Crisis, Hidden, Stress, Signal
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/moi/moi-et-les-autres-moi/Les-personnes-qui-font-toujours-des-blagues-dans-les-moments-tendus-ne-cherchent-pas-toujours-a-detendre-latmosphere-642247
- Author: Nina Parage
- Published: 2026-09-28T15:02:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: self-deprecating humor, stress avoidance, anxiety, psychological research, humor styles, covid-19, psychology
## Humor in Crisis
People who joke during tense moments like family fights or layoffs often avoid facing stress, not easing it.

> Les personnes qui font toujours des blagues dans les moments tendus ne cherchent pas toujours à détendre l'atmosphère
## Humor Styles and Stress
Psychologist Rod Martin created a 2003 questionnaire distinguishing four humor styles, two of which worsen stress.

> Cet outil distingue quatre façons d'utiliser l'humour, dont deux tournant mal
## Self-Depreciating Humor
Self-deprecating humor shows high anxiety and low self-esteem, using avoidance to cope with stress.

> l'humour autodéprécatif, caractérisé par le dénigrement de soi pour obtenir une acceptation sociale
## Stress Amplification
Avoiding stress sources increases anxiety, leading to physical complications like infections.

> si une personne évite activement d'affronter une source de stress qui génère de l'anxiété, cette dernière risque de s'amplifier
## Covid-19 Study
Adults with depression used humor and sarcasm more during the pandemic as a self-preservation strategy.

> Les adultes présentant des symptômes dépressifs ont davantage utilisé l'humour et le sarcasme
## The Hidden Signal
Laughter during crises may mask anxiety, not reduce tension, signaling distress without being noticed.

> la blague sortie au pire moment n'est donc pas forcément le signe d'un esprit qui va bien
## Key takeaway

Self-deprecating humor during crises masks anxiety, not reducing tension.