Discover Your Humor Personality Style — Quiz
People often say they have no sense of humor because they cannot tell jokes. But jokes are only one of a hundred different ways to elicit laughter or even smiles from people. Each person has a different personality style when it comes to humor, fun, and playfulness. The trick is to find your style and build on your innate strengths.
For example, are you the kind of person who can keep people riveted while telling a story about your latest trip to the grocery store, yet always blow the timing on a joke? Perhaps you like to clown around being playful, but get lost trying to do witty one-liners?
Take the D.A.N.C.E. Communication Style quiz HERE to find out your dominant style. It only takes a minute. This article focuses on the specific area of communication we’ll call: being humorous, playful, witty fun, amusing, etc. Each of the four D.A.N.C.E. personality styles have a specific type of humor they express or enjoy or both. That’s why not all people find the same things funny, although there are universal forms of humor that almost everyone enjoys. More about that later.
These personality styles are highly generalized. Most people have qualities of more than one style and may switch from one style to the other depending on the circumstances. Use this information as a place to start. The general advice if you want to add more fun, playfulness or humor to your communication, begin with a style that is easier for you, as opposed to trying something too foreign right from the start.
Once you experience success in your dominant style, you can expand your skills to include different types of humor to appeal to different types of people. That is why I have included a fifth style that includes and transcends all the other styles. It is the most creative and versatile style and therefore is labeled The Expert.
So, let’s go through the four styles and see if you can recognize your dominant type:
Demonstrator
Demonstrators are people oriented, fast paced, and enthusiastic. They usually have open body language and are animated and outgoing. They tend to prefer an informal atmosphere and enjoy socializing frequently. Extreme Demonstrators are outrageous, spontaneous, and excitable. They are idea people who like to be in the limelight. Weaknesses of this type are being unreliable, self-centered, overly optimistic, and boundaryless.
Many people drawn into traditional comedy performing are Demonstrators or developed this kind of humor persona. In the TV Show Big Bang Theory, the character of Howard (Simon Helberg) is a Demonstrator with his high energy, outrageous comments, and crazy colored clothes. Also, in the TV show Modern Family, Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is a Demonstrator with her big presence, loud voice and eye-catching outfits. Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) and other physical comedians like him are typical Demonstrators. Then there’s late-night comics Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon who are both wacky Demonstrators. Also, Steve Martin is a Demonstrator comedian. You can see their extraordinary talent for physical comedy and wacky characters in such movies as The Jerk, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, All of Me, The Office, and The 40-Year Old Virgin.
For those who can remember, Buster Keaton, The Three Stooges, Gracie Allen, and Jerry Lewis were all Demonstrators. Their wild physical antics made them the top comedians of their day. Other famous comedians through the ages with this style are Lucille Ball, Wayne Brady from Whose Line is it Anyway?, and Carrot Top. Cartoonists such as Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes) or Friz Freleng (The Pink Panther) use a Demonstrator style as well.
Humor Strengths
· Improvised humor
· Characters
· Impressions
· Using costumes, props, or magic
· Clowning
· Games
· Physical exaggeration
· Accents
· Farce
Demonstrator Jokes
Demonstrator jokes usually include something off-the-wall or outrageous, and the topic is more often about people rather than concepts or things. Many impressionists, game show hosts, and character actors are Demonstrators. Their job throughout history has been to step outside the norm, exaggerate the situation, or take the mundane into the absurd so that we stop taking life so seriously. For example:
“How many surrealist painters does it take to screw in a light bulb? Three. One to change the bulb, one to hold the giraffe, and one to fill the bathtub with multicolored dental instruments.” — Mitchell Yawitz
“If you want to be safe on the streets at night, carry a projector and slides of your last vacation.” — Helen Mundis
“Good thing I was born a woman, or I’d have been a drag queen.” — Dolly Parton
“I handed in a script last year and the studio didn’t change one word. The word they didn’t change was on page 87.” — Steve Martin
“My report card always said, ‘Jim finishes first and then disrupts the other students.” — Jim Carrey
“Whenever I have to choose between two evils, I always like to try the one I haven’t tried before.” — Mae West
“I thought lacrosse was what you find in la church.” — Robin Williams
“When my mother had to get dinner for eight she’d just make enough for sixteen and only serve half.” — Gracie Allen
Assertor
Assertors are fast-paced and direct like Demonstrators but tend to be more task-oriented. They are hard-working, ambitious leader types who are good at making decisions quickly and efficiently. They are goal-oriented, assertive, and confident. Assertors are the take-charge people who let nothing stop them. Their weaknesses include being too impatient, competitive, and judgmental.
In the TV Show Big Bang Theory, the character of Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) is an Assertor with her strong opinions and forthright manner. Also, in the TV show Modern Family, Jay (Ed O’Neill) is an Assertor with his Alpha male personality and assertive style of dealing with people. Bill Murray in movies like Groundhog’s Day or Ghostbusters portrays the Assertor style well. Also, Tina Fey tends towards those kinds of roles in her movies.
Entertainers such as Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sharon Horgan, Bill Maher and Rita Rudner are all Assertors. Late Night Satirists such as Stephen Colbert and David Letterman are also both Assertors. Also, maybe you can remember back to the comedy of Dennis Miller, Joan Rivers, George Carlin, and Don Rickles?
Many comedy duos often consist of an Assertor and a Demonstrator, such as George Burns and Gracie Allen, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, or Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, respectively. Cartoonists such as Jim Davis (Garfield), Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury), or Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) use an Assertor style in their comic strips.
Humor Strengths
· Stand-up comedy
· Roasts
· Satire
· Humor that uncovers hidden truths
· Jokes
· One-liners
· Pointed observations
Assertor Jokes
Assertor jokes usually have an edge, point out an uncomfortable truth, or include an aspect of power balancing. Many late-night comedians are like the king’s court jesters of medieval en days. Their job is to poke fun at authority figures when they get out of balance.
Examples:
“We are a nation of sheep, and someone else owns the grass.” — George Carlin
“How many honest politicians does it take to screw in a light bulb? Both of them.”
- Anonymous
“Based on what you know about him in history books, what do you think Abraham Lincoln would be doing if he were alive today? 1. Writing his memoirs of the Civil War. 2. Advising the President. 3. Desperately clawing at the inside of his coffin.” — David Letterman
“Whenever I date a guy, I think, is this the man I want my children to spend their weekends with?” — Rita Rudner
“The day I worry about cleaning my house, is the day Sears comes out with a riding vacuum cleaner.” — Roseanne Barr
“If you think nobody cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.”
- Anonymous
“If you can’t say anything nice about a person, come sit next to me.”
- Joan Rivers
“Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.” — George Bernard Shaw
“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” — William James
Narrator
Narrators are mellow and reserved like Contemplators, but they are more people-oriented like Demonstrators. They are warm, friendly, gentle, and cooperative. They value relationships over tasks. They are good at listening, have a sweet temperament, and tend to be open-minded. Most people find them to be loving and emotionally intuitive. Weaknesses of this type are their lack of assertiveness and their tendency to get sidetracked.
In the TV Show Big Bang Theory, the characters Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) are both Narrators with their caring, mellow demeanors. Also, in the TV show Modern Family, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Phil (Ty Burrell) are both Narrators with their overly sensitive personalities always looking for ways to create loving connections with people. Adam Sandler often plays the soft-hearted character, as does Kristen Wiig.
Back in the day, sitcom stars such as Mary Tyler Moore and Sally Field were both warm, sweet natured Narrator comedians in their TV shows. The comedy duo of Wayne & Garth (Mike Meyers & Dana Carvey) featured a Demonstrator and Narrator respectively. The late Gilda Radner and John Candy were both Narrators. For years, Narrator style Johnny Carson had his late-night show pitted against his exact opposite, Assertor, David Letterman.
For those who remember, for years a Narrator show like Oprah was pitted against the opposing Assertor style of a show like Geraldo. Several comedy duos are made up of a Narrator and a Contemplator, such as Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser in Mad About You; Cheech and Chong, and the Smothers Brothers. Woody Allen often teamed himself with a female Narrator comedian such as Diane Keaton or Mia Farrow.
Many family sitcoms have a Narrator style of comedy, such as Friends or Modern Family. Family movies and romantic comedies such as Parenthood, L.A. Story, When Harry Met Sally, The Proposal, and 500 Days of Summer focus on a Narrator style. Cartoonists such as Cathy Guisewite (Cathy), or Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse) also use a Narrator style of humor in their comic strips.
Humor Strengths
• Storytelling
• Cooperative games
• Humor about relationships
• Preplanned as opposed to spontaneous
• Roleplays
• Audience interaction
Narrator Jokes
Narrator jokes tend to be about relationships between people, or charming characteristics about people. The Narrator’s job throughout history has been to use humor to bring people closer, to break the ice, and to help us build compassion for ourselves and others. Here is a sampling of Narrator jokes:
“How many grandmothers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Three. One to change the bulb, and two to reminisce about how nice the old one was.” — Anonymous
“The major concerns of social activist Emily Litella (Gilda Radner): 1. Conservation of national racehorses 2. Violins in schools. 3. Soviet jewelry 4. Endangered feces”
“You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.” — George Burns
“Women definitely go to maintenance extremes. It’s amazing the way women take care of all the hair on their bodies. One of the great mysteries to me is the fact that a woman could pour hot wax on her legs, rip the hair out by the roots, and still be afraid of a spider.”
- Jerry Seinfeld
“In response to the recent earthquake ‘The God is Dead’ meeting that was scheduled for tonight, has been canceled.” — Johnny Carson
Contemplator
Contemplators are task-oriented like Assertors, however, they are more indirect and methodical. Contemplators tend to be analytical, detail-oriented thinker types. They are persistent, good problem solvers, and, they pride themselves on their orderliness and accuracy. Often seen alone, they tend to have quiet, low-key personalities. Their weaknesses include being too withdrawn, rigid, closed-minded, and overly pessimistic.
In the TV Show Big Bang Theory, the character of Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is a Contemplator with his mellow but highly intellectual quirkiness. Also, in the TV show Modern Family, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) is a Contemplator with his quieter personality and intellectual and fastidiousness. Also Anna Kendrick in her many movie roles can both portray the Contemplator style well.
Entertainers who access the Contemplator style are often in the comedy-writing department rather than on stage. However, actors like Rick Moranis, Bob Newhart, and Woody Allen personify the quiet, intellectual style of Contemplators. Stand-up comics such as Steven Wright, Ellen Degeneris, and Paula Poundstone can enter into that dry, observational style, as well. Many of the top cartoonists such as Gary Larson (The Far Side) or Charles Schulz (Peanuts), are Contemplators. They enjoy the intellectual challenge and quiet life of a syndicated cartoonist.
Humor Strengths
· Puns
· Wordplays
· Riddles
· Observational humor
· Intellectual humor
· Philosophical humor
Contemplator Jokes
Contemplator jokes may include self-deprecating humor, black humor, wordplays, or wry observations. The topic is more often about concepts than about people. The Contemplator’s job throughout history has been to look at the world from unusual angles and provide us with new perspectives. Here are some Contemplator jokes:
“How many programmers does it take to change a light bulb? None, that’s hardware.” — — Anonymous
“It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
- Woody Allen
“Whenever I think of the past it just brings back so many memories.” — Steven Wright
“I used to work at the International House of Pancakes. It was a dream, and I made it happen.” — Paula Poundstone
“Sorry, but my karma just ran over your dogma.” — Swami Beyondananda
“Don’t spend two dollars to dry clean a shirt. Donate it to the Salvation Army instead. They’ll clean it and put it on a hanger. Next morning buy it back for seventy-five cents.”
- William Coronel
“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong? Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.’”
- Charlie Brown, Peanuts [Charles Schulz]
“I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants.”
- A. Whitney Brown
“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.” — Ellen DeGeneris
One Joke/ Four Styles
Here is a joke to better help you understand the four styles:
Four nobles in Medieval times who each embodied a different humor style were sentenced to execution. The executioner pulled the rope, and the blade came down only to stop inches before their necks. The Sheriff of the town decided it was a sign from God that they were innocent and so set them all free.
The Assertor announced, “I told you I was innocent!”
The Demonstrator called out, “Let’s party!”
The Narrator went up to the executioner, hugged him and said, “I just want you to know I don’t take this personally.”
The Contemplator said, “I think I see the problem.”
Expert
Experts are the fifth type of humorist, and typically they can access most styles of humor. If your Humor Style Quiz score came out fairly even across the board, consider yourself an Expert, or on your way there. To some extent, we are all a hybrid of many styles. The more balanced we can become, the more tools we have in our toolkit, the better prepared we are for the humor challenges we may encounter in life.
Experts can be both people-oriented and task-oriented. They can flip between a slow-paced style and a fast-paced one often with great comic effect. They are open at certain times when it feels appropriate and reserved when that feels best. When the situation calls for it, they will be direct in their communication. When a more indirect approach serves, they will opt for this route. They tend to stay in the present moment, and utilize whatever tools seem best for the occasion.
They can be great writers of comedy as well as great performers. They both plan their humor carefully and break free into spontaneity when necessary. Their style is congruent with the situation. Their position is one of wholeness and free movement in any direction. All parts of themselves are in balance. A weakness of this type is that they can challenge the status quo too much, causing others to feel off-balance or uncomfortable.
Comedians who are versatile actors in many areas are often Experts, such as the late, Robin Williams, and Jim Carrey, Lily Tomlin, Emma Thompson, Peter Sellers, Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, Peter Sellers, Billy Crystal and Kate McKinnon. They have ventured into such varied areas as stand-up, improv, sketch comedy, dramatic roles, movie acting, TV roles, writing, and directing. Many behind-the-scenes humorists are Experts.
They are producing, directing, and writing, often being the innovators of new projects. Some Experts from yesteryear were Charlie Chaplin, Spalding Gray, Alan Alda, Albert Brooks, Goldie Hawn, Rob Reiner, Ron Howard, Mike Nichols, and Elaine May. All could perform and be behind the scenes.
Experts move past stereotypes, conventions, and styles to pioneer something new. According to most comedians, an audience of comedians is the toughest. They can see behind the comedian’s bag of tricks and are usually analyzing the performer rather than surrendering to the comic experience. In his book The Republic, the ancient Greek scholar Plato referred to the philosopher-king as the ideal ruler because of his pioneering innovation.
Hal Erickson, a comedy reviewer, said that Albert Brooks was this “comedian-philosopher-king of whom Plato spoke” because of his innovative style. Brooks is one of the few comedians who can make other comics laugh.
Humor Strengths
• Humor with a general appeal
• High concept and involvement
• Mind-expanding concepts
• Characters with depth
• Performance storytelling
• Creating new comic formats
Expert Jokes
Expert jokes use humor to philosophize and to poke fun at human foibles rather than at specific people. They also use humor as a vehicle for creativity. Experts are likely to create new kinds of jokes, physicalizations, observations, and unusual forms of delivery.
They may choose to demonstrate humor one moment then cut to the truth, move into narrative, and end with a contemplative style. They find a synthesis between many kinds of humor, either putting them together in new ways, creating a hybrid, or transforming two styles into a completely new third style. Here are some Expert jokes:
“How many Zen Masters does it take to screw in a light bulb? Two. One to screw in the bulb and one not to screw in the bulb.”
- Anonymous
“Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it. I can take it in small doses, but as a lifestyle I find it too confining.”
- Lily Tomlin in her show The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
“In the end, everything is a gag.” — Charlie Chaplin
“Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.” — Plato
“Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.” — F. P. Jones
“To err is human. To really screw up, you need a computer.” — Anonymous
In conclusion, there are many different styles of humor that play to people’s unique personalities and preferences. By understanding the core strengths of the Demonstrator, Assertor, Narrator, and Contemplator humor styles, you can identify your dominant style and build on your innate comedic talents. With practice, you can even become a versatile Expert, able to use multiple styles effectively. The key is to start with what comes naturally and expand from there. When you discover your humor personality, you’ll gain confidence and find more opportunities to spread laughter and light.
Take the D.A.N.C.E. Communication Style quiz HERE to find out your dominant style.
