When you get confused on the sidewalk or forget someone's name, it's best not to be too embarrassed.
A new study shows that laughing at your mistakes makes you more likable.
In a series of online experiments with over 3,000 participants, researchers asked people to read about funny situations of others, like hitting a glass door at a party or mistakenly greeting the wrong person.
Then, participants saw how the people in these stories reacted after their mistake.
The result: those who laughed at their small mistakes were rated as warmer, more competent, and more authentic than those who appeared embarrassed.
"Our findings suggest that people often underestimate how others judge their minor social mistakes," said co-author Övül Sezer of Cornell University.
"For small, harmless mistakes, laughing at yourself can show social confidence, reduce tension, and communicate that the mistake was accidental."
The researchers added that in these cases, shame was often seen as excessive.
“Observers thought that those who displayed shame felt more ashamed than the situation required, while laughter indicated that they understood that the mistake was minor,” Dr. Sezer added.
However, there was one limitation – the error had to be harmless.
In another experiment, a person was described as slipping and breaking their own arm. In another case, the person slipped and knocked down a colleague, breaking the colleague's arm.
In these cases, laughing at oneself was seen as inappropriate.
Previous research shows that showing shame after a mistake can have social benefits.
People love shame because it shows remorse and respect for social norms, Dr. Sezer explained.
"It is important to tailor the response to the seriousness of the error," she added.
The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, states: “When a mistake causes little or no harm to others, laughter maximizes reputation. But when the mistake harms others, laughter becomes inappropriate and reduces reputational benefits.”
The team said there is often a tendency to display shame after a social gaffe, but signaling laughter offers a more effective strategy for preserving reputation. /GazetaExpress/
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