“What is your greatest weakness?” Routinely, professional and personal situations require us to disclose negative information about ourselves, but in doing so, we run the risk of damaging how others view us. In a series of five unique studies, HKUST’s Professor Bradford Bitterly and his colleague examined whether humor can make us seem more likable and capable when confessing our faults. Their novel findings suggest that humor can indeed mitigate the harmful effects of sharing negative information.
How can individuals hope to make a favorable impression in situations in which they must directly admit their shortcomings? Exposing negative information about oneself may give others a poor impression, and putting a positive spin on that information—such as claiming that “I care too much”—may prove annoying. “Individuals face a dilemma,” say the authors. “What they reveal can harm perceptions of their warmth, competence, or both.”
Curiously, humor—which is almost universally enjoyed—might help to navigate these situations. The use of humor signals the intent to entertain, which can reduce the inferred veracity of a person’s words—the extent to which an observer believes them to be true. “By adding humor,” hypothesized the researchers, “an individual may diminish perceptions of the veracity of both the humorous statement and proximal claims.”
In five studies including almost 1,800 participants, the researchers examined whether humor can be used to create a more positive impression when making negative self-disclosures. In each study, the participants were presented with a hypothetical context in which negative information was disclosed both with and without humor. For example, imagined job interviewees described an academic shortcoming either seriously (“I am not good at math”) or jokingly (“Geometry is where I draw the line”). The participants then recorded their perceptions of each interviewee.
Intriguingly, humor reduced the perceived veracity of negative self-disclosure. An admission of weakness (such as “I can’t make Italian food”) was considered less believable when the speaker added a quip (such as “I feel like an imPASTA”). Through this mechanism, humor increased observers’ perceptions of a candidate’s warmth and competence, as well as their willingness to offer the candidate a job. “The use of humor significantly mitigates the harmful effects of disclosing negative information,” report the researchers.
These fascinating findings demonstrate the potential for humor to shape our perceptions of others and our belief in what they say. “Specifically,” say the authors, “humor makes proximal statements appear less true.” It may thus play a crucial role in impression management in situations that require people to admit failings, such as job interviews and even dates. “We identify humor as a powerful tool for navigating these situations,” the researchers tell us. However, the effect of humor cuts both ways. “Speakers should recognise that their use of humor may also, in conversational claims proximal to their use of humor, reduce their credibility,” warn the authors.
The findings also hold lessons for those listening. After all, “there are times when the audience may want to avoid discounting the veracity of humorous assertions.” When knowing the truth is very important to an interviewer, they might consider using questioning tactics that discourage candidates from responding jokingly or utilize follow-up questions if an answer is not clear. “The ability of humor to alter the way comments are perceived underscores the importance of both crafting questions and remaining vigilant in interpreting the responses received,” the authors conclude.