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Has anyone ever told you that you have a dark sense of humor? Well, you might need to thank them for this compliment because, inadvertently, they have just called you smart.

The reason for this conclusion is the fact that researchers have looked into the intelligence patterns of people who like dark humor. Scientists found that they have higher IQs than those who aren’t big fans of the morbidly hilarious.

If you don’t know if dark humor is for you, the list below can be a good indicator of that. It contains a whole bunch of unsettling images that are both a little weird and a little hilarious. Shared online by Instagram page Disturbing Zone, it is the epitome of chaotic meme energy. Scroll down to see some of our favorites.

#1

Image credits: disturbingzone

In all honesty, this list might not be the best example of dark humor. You see, to analyze dark humor scientists had to determine what it is.

Their definition? “Humor that treats sinister subjects like death, disease, deformity, handicap, or warfare with bitter amusement and presents such tragic, distressing or morbid topics in humorous terms.”

So, yeah, Shrek memes might not be the best example of that. However, once you look at how those researchers determined the correlation there, the connection to these memes might seem a little more obvious.

#2

Image credits: disturbingzone

#3

Image credits: disturbingzone

Firstly, it is important to note that scientists were presenting images to the participants, not solely written jokes. They were humorous comics with dark undertones by Uli Stein. So, in a basic sense it is similar to memes.

Then, comes the main argument. The researchers claim that the reason people with higher IQs like dark humor is the fact that it is harder to understand what is funny about them. Discerning them is a tough thing to do, so much so that they call it “a complex information-processing task.” There are layers there that take more mental work than an ordinary gag.

#4

Image credits: disturbingzone

#5

Image credits: disturbingzone

#6

Image credits: disturbingzone

If that for you didn’t sound as a very apt description of a meme, then let me break it to you: memes are layered jokes that often require context and additional knowledge to fully grasp them. In other words, you need to be in the know and do a little bit of mental processing to laugh. In that sense, they are very similar to dark humor examples used in the study.

#7

Image credits: disturbingzone

#8

Image credits: disturbingzone

#9

Image credits: disturbingzone

The difference between the two is that dark humor requires you to do some additional emotional labor. As in, for you to find a dark joke funny, you have to emotionally distance yourself from the joke to see it as amusing and not threatening.

#10

Image credits: disturbingzone

#11

Image credits: disturbingzone

#12

Image credits: disturbingzone

When it comes to memes, the emotional connection is usually attached to the gag. For example, it’s not uncommon for the images to evoke nostalgic feelings. Still, a lot of the memes also get into disturbing/disgusting territory, so removing yourself from the initial feeling of repulsion to see the hilarity of it might also be necessary.

#13

Image credits: disturbingzone

#14

Image credits: disturbingzone

#15

Image credits: disturbingzone

All in all, if you found this collection of memes funny, you might just be a brilliant genius. Or you might just be aware of the social context that makes these specific memes funny. Either way, we hope you had a chuckle!