Studies Show “Humblebragging” Actually Makes People Think Less of You
The act of sharing good deeds on social media is so prevalent that there’s an actual word for it in the dictionary: humblebrag. It’s defined as “An ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud.”
The term typically refers to people who make comments about how “embarrassed” or “annoyed” they are about something that most people would be happy about. For example, that friend who posts that she wishes people would stop telling her that she should sell her photos to a magazine because she just does it for fun is really saying, “Everyone thinks my photography skills are amazing!”
However, it also applies to people who “humblebrag” about good deeds. Like, “The waitress at Joe’s Diner was so shocked when she saw the $500 tip I left her that she dropped her tray! I feel so bad! I hope she doesn’t get in trouble! I’ll have to call her manager and let him know it was my fault.”
According to studies, this behavior signals a selfish motivation, which leads others to think less- rather than more- of your good deed. So, it has the complete opposite effect of what you’re hoping to achieve. If you’re thinking, “So what? I don’t care what others think of me,” pause for a moment and reflect on that. If you truly didn’t care, then you wouldn’t feel the need to share your good deeds, now, would you?
A good deed is still a good deed even if no one sees it
For all of those who love to “humblebrag,” I urge you to think about what you’re really telling the world. If you’re feeling really proud of something that you did to help others and you want to share it, then just share it. Don’t hide behind false modesty.
If you find that you’re humblebragging about all your good deeds, I urge you to look within and ask yourself why you’re doing the right thing. If it’s for attention and recognition, you may want to talk to someone about that. I don’t mean that in a nasty way, but in a “concerned about you” way. Attention-seeking behavior like that can be a symptom of a deeper mental health issue.