"'Our findings suggest that people often overestimate how harshly others judge their minor social mistakes,' co-author Övül Sezer, from Cornell University, said."
"'For minor, harmless blunders, laughing at yourself can signal social confidence, reduce tension and communicate that the mistake was accidental.'"
"'Observers tended to think that actors who displayed embarrassment were feeling more embarrassed than the situation warranted, while laughing signalled that they recognized the mistake was minor.'"
"'What's important is calibrating the reaction to the seriousness of the mistake,' she added."
A study involving over 3,000 participants found that laughing at minor social blunders, such as tripping or misnaming someone, enhances perceptions of warmth, competence, and authenticity. Participants viewed those who laughed at their mistakes more favorably than those who showed embarrassment. Excessive embarrassment was often seen as unwarranted. However, the study noted that the mistakes must be harmless; laughing at serious mistakes, like injuring someone, was deemed inappropriate. Balancing reactions to the severity of mistakes is crucial for social interactions.
Read at Mail Online
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