Self-deprecation is the act of making light of or criticizing yourself:

Frequent or harsh self-deprecation may make others think you genuinely have low self-esteem or lack confidence.

In professional settings, excessive self-deprecation may undermine your credibility.

Self-criticism: Evaluating yourself negatively, often more seriously than self-deprecation.

Self-deprecation is the act of making light of or criticizing yourself, at times, in a humorous or modest way. It may be used to appear humble, relatable, or to defuse tension.

Examples:

• “I’m terrible at remembering names.”
• “Don’t ask me to cook, I can barely make toast.”
• “I managed to get lost using GPS.”

When it’s useful:

• Breaking the ice in social situations.
• Showing humility.
• Adding humor to conversations.

When to be careful:

• Frequent or harsh self-deprecation may make others think you genuinely have low self-esteem or lack confidence.
• In professional settings, excessive self-deprecation may undermine your credibility.

Related terms:

• Self-deprecating humor: Joking about your own flaws or mistakes.
• Humility: A modest view of one’s own importance (not necessarily involving criticism).
• Self-criticism: Evaluating yourself negatively, often more seriously than self-deprecation.

In short, self-deprecation means belittling or making fun of yourself, which may not be a good idea in certain situations.

Shervan K Shahhian