A recent study suggests that while “dad jokes” may cause embarrassment, they may have future benefits for some children.
Humor researcher Marc Hye-Knudsen published a study this week in the Journal of the British Psychological Society that suggests “dad jokes” actually have a positive impact on development.
Hay-Knudsen writes: “If considered properly, dad jokes are a complex, multi-layered, and fascinating phenomenon that sheds light not only on how humor and jokes work, but also on the psychology of fathers and their relationships with their children. Relationship.”
Dad jokes are usually harmless, corny puns. They’re wholesome and age-appropriate for dads to tell their kids.
“This is why dad jokes are so easily criticized as silly, lame and unfunny,” the study said.
Hey-Knudsen believes that when fathers embarrass their children with unfunny jokes, it teaches them how to overcome their embarrassment.
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“By telling their children jokes that are so bad that they are embarrassed, fathers may be pushing the limits of how much embarrassment their children can tolerate,” the article states. “They are showing their children that embarrassment is not fatal.”
The study concluded by encouraging fathers to continue to help their children’s development by telling embarrassing jokes.