Laughing at yourself is good for you
Laughing at yourself is healthy, new research has shown. Researchers at the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center in Spain (CIMCYC) have concluded that self-deprecating jokes might make you a happier person. Their findings contradict previous research done on the topic, which suggests that making fun of oneself consistently is linked only to negative psychological effects.
Researcher Jorge Torres Marín explained the work, which was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, saying: ‘In particular, we have observed that a greater tendency to employ self-defeating humour is indicative of high scores in psychological well-being dimensions such as happiness and, to a lesser extent, sociability.’But the specifics of this finding vary depending on where one lives, Marín went on to say.
‘The results, as well as being consistent with the positive connotations traditionally attributed to the act of “laughing at oneself” in our country, also suggest that the effects of self-defeating humour on well-being may differ depending on where the research takes place.’ Because of this, Marín’s team is calling for more research on the topic to create a map that outlines where and to what extent their work is applicable.
“Consequently, we believe it is necessary to conduct new studies aimed at analyzing potential cultural differences in the use of this kind of humour,” he said.
(C) Daily Mail, London