Historically, people have thought that the best way to respond to a mistake is to express honest embarrassment. Feeling sheepish about your mistake is a great way to show others that you understand social norms<\/a> and simply fell a bit short on this occasion. You blush, cast your eyes downward, and whisper a small \u201cMy bad\u201d or \u201cSorry about that,\u201d with a shrug of your shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, research shows that the best way to recover after screwing up publicly is to laugh at yourself. A new study from<\/a> the Cornell University SC Johnson School of Business involving 3,000 participants found that laughing at yourself can make you more likable than showing embarrassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur findings suggest that people often overestimate how harshly others judge their minor social mistakes,\u201d said study co-author \u00d6v\u00fcl Sezer, PhD, of the Cornell University SC Johnson School of Business, according to Neuroscience News<\/em><\/a>. \u201cFor minor, harmless blunders, laughing at yourself can signal social confidence, reduce tension, and communicate that the mistake was accidental.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Laughing at yourself shows that you are socially confident and downplays the mistake in others\u2019 eyes. Plus, people who can laugh at themselves are seen as warmer and more competent. The humor serves as a \u201creset button,\u201d de-escalating the collective feeling of awkwardness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, when people appear embarrassed and apologetic after a mistake, others often see their reaction as excessive. This can come across as inauthentic or socially awkward. Often, people exaggerate their level of embarrassment to show that they understand what they did was inappropriate. Ironically, in trying to take the sting out of a cringeworthy moment by appearing embarrassed, they actually end up looking more awkward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s interesting is that embarrassment was often perceived as excessive,\u201d Sezer said. \u201cObservers tended to think that actors who displayed embarrassment were feeling more embarrassed than the situation warranted, while laughing signaled that they recognized the mistake was minor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the social situation itself, feeling embarrassed can be bad for our mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"mistake,](\"https:\/\/www.upworthy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Palm.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the best way to respond to making a public mistake?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is it better to laugh at yourself than to show embarrassment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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