Self-deprecation, or Self-depreciation,[1] is the act of belittling or undervaluing oneself.[2] It can be used in humor and tension release.[3]
Self-deprecating humor relies on the observation of something negative about the person delivering the commentary. Many comedians use self-deprecating humor to avoid seeming arrogant or pompous, and to help the audience identify with them. In this way, the use of self-deprecating humor could be seen as an application of the rhetorical concept of ethos. This is a major component of the comedy of comedians such as Louis C.K., Don Knotts, Woody Allen, Jon Stewart, Ricky Gervais, David Letterman, Craig Ferguson, Brian Regan, Larry David, Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, John Pinette, Conan O'Brien, Vadivelu, Chelsea Handler, Stephen Merchant, Gus Garcia and Tina Fey.
The technique is often used to balance the audience judgment on a performer, after exhibiting conspicuous displays of arrogance.
Such humour is often stereotypically associated with people from the United Kingdom.[4]