Putting the “self” in self-deprecation: When deprecating humor about minorities is acceptable

Abstract

This study tested how source knowledge affects enjoyment of self- deprecating humor about a minority group. Participants made aware that the sourc of a message poking fun at people with disabilities was himself disabled had more positive evaluations of the cartoon and author than participants un-aware of his disability. Participants initially given no source information judged the author more positively the second time when they were given follow-up source information. Finally, some effects were moderated by the disability status of the message receiver, such that having a disability or knowing someone who does predicted higher liking of the cartoons when the author is disabled but lower liking when he is not. The results suggest a role for self-deprecating humor in intergroup relations, and predict when such humor will be accepted by mi-nority and non-minority group members.