Self-deprecating humor can be a controversial topic. On the one hand, making jokes at our own expense can bring a few laughs and may even help us feel more relatable to others. However, it’s important to consider whether or not this type of humor is actually healthy. Is it really a good idea to insult ourselves for the purpose of making a joke? It’s worth taking a closer look at the pros and cons of this off-brand style of humor.
Table of Contents
Pros of self-deprecating humour
Let’s begin by looking at some of the pros associated with self-deprecating humour.
Combat stress
Firstly, as with all forms of humour, laughter (hopefully) is part of the package deal. Fortunately for us, having a giggle every now and then comes with major benefits. These include:
- Releasing endorphins (feel-good hormones)
- Lowering the levels of stress hormones
- Relaxing the muscles for a prolonged period of time
Useful article:
Self awareness
Another positive of self-deprecating humour is the fact that it relies on the individual having a keen sense of self-awareness. I truly believe that in today’s age, a lot of us have trouble accepting the bad parts of ourselves. It’s so easy to portray only the good parts on social media to receive positive validation. We’d rather not engage with the parts of ourselves that would make others look at us with concern.
By making jokes about our shortcomings, we demonstrate that we are comfortable with and accepting of all parts of ourselves, even the less desirable ones.
Emotional well being
It may come as a surprise, but a study conducted by the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Center at the University of Granada found that those who engage in self-deprecating humor may actually have higher levels of psychological well-being, including happiness and sociability.
Lead researcher Jorge Torres Marín commented, ‘We have observed that a greater tendency to use self-defeating humor is indicative of high scores in psychological well-being dimensions such as happiness and, to a lesser extent, sociability.'”
Full article:
Self-defeating humour promotes psychological well-being, study reveals
The downside of self-deprecating humour
We’ve all encountered someone who takes a joke too far and ruins the humor. The same is true with self-deprecating jokes – when they stop being funny and start becoming a reflection of how we truly see ourselves, it’s time to be concerned. This doesn’t happen overnight, but rather as a result of consistently making self-deprecating jokes over time.
While it may seem harmless to use self-deprecating humor to bring joy to others, it can ultimately damage our self-worth and reinforce negative beliefs about ourselves. It’s important to be aware of the power of our words and use them responsibly, rather than using humor as a means of tearing ourselves down.
Our ability to communicate is a crucial part of our survival as humans, and as a result, our brains are highly attuned to the words we use. This is why positive affirmations and self-talk can be so effective. On the other hand, if we constantly make self-deprecating jokes, even as a form of humor, our brains may start to believe those negative statements.
It’s important to be mindful of how we use self-deprecating humor and consider whether it is a healthy coping mechanism or if we genuinely believe the self-insults we are making. Remember, our words have power and it is important to use them responsibly
What do you think? Is self deprecating humour healthy? Do you think the pros outweigh the cons of these types of jokes? Let me know in the comments below. I’m curious!
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I love this, I am definitely one to make a joke at my own expense. While I feel like I am good I can 100% see where it could slowly wear someone down. Great post!
Agreed, I am reasonable good at self-deprecating himor. I am aware it comes from insecurity. However, being aware of that, I know the good qualities are at least /partially/ true. Therefore it /tends/ to be self-affirming rather than destructive.
Comedians are excellent at self-deprecating humor, often they say their humor comes from a dark place (read: insecurity).
I have always been of the mind that self-deprecating humor is just bad.
There are so many other things to joke about, like puns, bad dad jokes, and such.
As you said, our words have power, and using them to make fun of yourself is a slippery slope.
This is brilliant, thanks so much for sharing. I always take the approach of THINK before speaking – is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind – if the answer to any of these is NO then I better keep it to myself 🙂
I definitely agree with your thoughts. It is important not to do it in order to get attention by other people.
I think making jokes about yourself for the most part is healthy and like you say, shows self-awareness.
However, I’ve had a person or two make a joke at their own expense that made the conversation somewhat uncomfortable.
Very interesting thoughts!