Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability
Abstract Background Given the increasing prevalence of cyber spoofing and satire targeting public figures, understanding the psychological and social effects of self-deprecating humor can provide valuable insights into its effectiveness as a coping strategy. Methods Studies 1a (N = 183) and 1b (N = ...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02841-7 |
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| author | Yi Cao Hao Li Tonglin Jiang Junhua Dang Yubo Hou |
| author_facet | Yi Cao Hao Li Tonglin Jiang Junhua Dang Yubo Hou |
| author_sort | Yi Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Given the increasing prevalence of cyber spoofing and satire targeting public figures, understanding the psychological and social effects of self-deprecating humor can provide valuable insights into its effectiveness as a coping strategy. Methods Studies 1a (N = 183) and 1b (N = 198) manipulated self-deprecating humor and examined its effect on interpersonal liking using within-participant and between-participant designs, respectively. Study 2 (N = 205) explored the moderating role of social distance and Study 3 (N = 274) investigated the mediating role of perceived forgiveness in the distant condition. Results The results showed that using self-deprecating humor as a coping strategy increased the celebrity’s interpersonal likeability (Study 1). Moreover, self-deprecating humor was more effective in the distant condition than in the close condition (Study 2) and may enhance interpersonal liking through perceived forgiveness (Study 3). Conclusions These findings suggest that self-deprecating humor can serve as an effective strategy for celebrities to navigate cyber spoofing, particularly when addressing a distant audience. The study highlights the role of social distance and perceived forgiveness in shaping audience responses, offering practical implications for celebrity image management on social media. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b1241f6d3f244de89a53ed4bc1b0d2e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b1241f6d3f244de89a53ed4bc1b0d2e2025-08-20T02:25:09ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-05-011311910.1186/s40359-025-02841-7Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeabilityYi Cao0Hao Li1Tonglin Jiang2Junhua Dang3Yubo Hou4School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking UniversityTibet UniversitySchool of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking UniversityInstitute of Social Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversitySchool of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking UniversityAbstract Background Given the increasing prevalence of cyber spoofing and satire targeting public figures, understanding the psychological and social effects of self-deprecating humor can provide valuable insights into its effectiveness as a coping strategy. Methods Studies 1a (N = 183) and 1b (N = 198) manipulated self-deprecating humor and examined its effect on interpersonal liking using within-participant and between-participant designs, respectively. Study 2 (N = 205) explored the moderating role of social distance and Study 3 (N = 274) investigated the mediating role of perceived forgiveness in the distant condition. Results The results showed that using self-deprecating humor as a coping strategy increased the celebrity’s interpersonal likeability (Study 1). Moreover, self-deprecating humor was more effective in the distant condition than in the close condition (Study 2) and may enhance interpersonal liking through perceived forgiveness (Study 3). Conclusions These findings suggest that self-deprecating humor can serve as an effective strategy for celebrities to navigate cyber spoofing, particularly when addressing a distant audience. The study highlights the role of social distance and perceived forgiveness in shaping audience responses, offering practical implications for celebrity image management on social media.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02841-7cyber spoofingCoping strategyForgivenessSelf-deprecating humorSocial distance |
| spellingShingle | Yi Cao Hao Li Tonglin Jiang Junhua Dang Yubo Hou Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability BMC Psychology cyber spoofing Coping strategy Forgiveness Self-deprecating humor Social distance |
| title | Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability |
| title_full | Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability |
| title_fullStr | Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability |
| title_short | Laughing off cyber spoofing: the role of self-deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities’ interpersonal likeability |
| title_sort | laughing off cyber spoofing the role of self deprecating humor in enhancing celebrities interpersonal likeability |
| topic | cyber spoofing Coping strategy Forgiveness Self-deprecating humor Social distance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02841-7 |
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