Why Do People Laugh at Their Own Jokes?

You laugh because you're surprised by your own joke. It's like when someone gives you a present, and you think it's just okay, but then you realize how thoughtful it was. Your brain is tricked into thinking the joke is even funnier than it actually is, so you laugh harder at yourself.

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Examples

A kid tells a joke about his pet goldfish and laughs at it so hard he falls off the couch.
Your friend tells you a joke, but when you tell it back, it's suddenly twice as funny.
You say something that sounds like a joke, then you realize it actually was.

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Categories: Psychology · humor· self-perception· cognitive dissonance· social behavior