August 2010 PMID 20587696

Benign violations: making immoral behavior funny.

A Peter McGraw, Caleb Warren

Mentions

48
Peak: 6 in Jan 2026
across 4 sources since Apr 2020

Extended reach

166,567
potential audience

Total likes

6,324

Video views

154,043

Mentions per month

Apr 2020 – Jan 2026

Where it's discussed

  • News26 articles
  • X / Twitter9 posts
  • Blogs9 articles
  • YouTube4 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions highlight the core idea that humor arises when moral violations are perceived as harmless, with posts emphasizing terms like 'benign violations' and 'making immoral behavior funny,' which reflect the article's focus. The tone is analytical yet curious, pointing to an interest in understanding how humor functions socially and psychologically.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the intriguing idea that certain violations can be made humorous if perceived as benign, aligning with the article's thesis.

InterestHigh interest

The topic of humor derived from moral violations is engaging, especially since several posts express curiosity and mention the surprising aspects of the research.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments include references to the key concepts like 'benign violations' and specific hypotheses, demonstrating moderate depth of engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the article provokes thought about the social and psychological implications of humor, indicating a modest but meaningful impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The study explores how humor often arises from violations of norms that are perceived as "benign," meaning they are seen as acceptable or not serious, which makes the violation funny rather than all bad.
  • Three main factors that make a violation benign are: the presence of an alternative norm, weak commitment to the norm, and psychological distance from the violation; these factors help people see the violation as less harmful and more humorous.
  • The research found that people laugh and feel amused even when they encounter moral violations that normally evoke disgust, as long as these violations are perceived as both wrong and not wrong at the same time, supporting the idea that humor can come from morally questionable situations that are seen as harmless.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Saeed
@Saeedvarani · X

آیا میشه با هرچیزی شوخی کرد؟! حتی اگر قانونی باشه؟؟ خیر نمیشه! مثلا شما نمیتونین با خرید و فروش دختر باکره زیر سن قانونی شوخی کنین! چون اینجا طنز ناهنجاری رو میشکنه و اون رو بی‌خطر جلوه میده، و میتونه اونو به هنجار تبدیل کنه. از: Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny. https://t.co/yPcQ8lZyUN

Aug 25, 2025 · 4 likes · 100 followers View post →
Yuuko Morimoto
@myuuko · X

良性の道徳違反(状況が許容可能,規範へのコミットメントが弱い,違反から心理的距離)は笑いや娯楽をもたらすが,同時に嫌悪感ももたらしているよという研究。いろいろと当てはまるところが多そうな話。/ Benign violations: making immoral behavior funny https://t.co/fc58AufHZo

Feb 23, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 9,273 followers View post →
UP PUGAD Sayk
@UPPUGADSayk · X

Stay tuned for more #ThemedTalinoTuesdays by following UP PUGAD Sayk on Facebook and Twitter! Reference: McGraw, A. P., & Warren, C. (2010). Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny. Psychological Science, 21(8), 1141–1149. Pub by: Simon Escala (2/2)

Apr 7, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 570 followers View post →
Mek
@mekarpeles · X

Apr 19, 2022 · 1 like · 1,320 followers View post →
Emotional Hedgehog
@HedgehogOfHaqq · X

@paripvadaftrsex Souce: 'Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny' A. Peter McGraw and Caleb Warren https://t.co/8XUqTvzy68

May 30, 2025 · 1 like · 37 followers View post →
ᶜᵒʳᵉʸ
@xanonunknown · X

With “irreverent humor”. McGraw and Warren (2010) have a fascinating hypothesis called “The Benign-Violation Hypothesis,” which suggests that “three conditions are jointly necessary and sufficient for eliciting humor”. (5/?)

Jul 10, 2022 · 592 followers View post →

All mentions

Saeed
@Saeedvarani · X

آیا میشه با هرچیزی شوخی کرد؟! حتی اگر قانونی باشه؟؟ خیر نمیشه! مثلا شما نمیتونین با خرید و فروش دختر باکره زیر سن قانونی شوخی کنین! چون اینجا طنز ناهنجاری رو میشکنه و اون رو بی‌خطر جلوه میده، و میتونه اونو به هنجار تبدیل کنه. از: Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny. https://t.co/yPcQ8lZyUN

Aug 25, 2025 · 4 likes · 100 followers View post →
⏳
@hibernation_7 · X

@Tenoqtitlan @grok Je te souhaite une bonne lecture : McGraw, Peter A., and Caleb Warren. "Benign violations: Making immoral behavior funny." Psychological Science 21.8 (2010): 1141–1149.

Jul 27, 2025 · 130 followers View post →
Emotional Hedgehog
@HedgehogOfHaqq · X

@paripvadaftrsex Souce: 'Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny' A. Peter McGraw and Caleb Warren https://t.co/8XUqTvzy68

May 30, 2025 · 1 like · 37 followers View post →
ᶜᵒʳᵉʸ
@xanonunknown · X

With “irreverent humor”. McGraw and Warren (2010) have a fascinating hypothesis called “The Benign-Violation Hypothesis,” which suggests that “three conditions are jointly necessary and sufficient for eliciting humor”. (5/?)

Jul 10, 2022 · 592 followers View post →
Mek
@mekarpeles · X

Apr 19, 2022 · 1 like · 1,320 followers View post →
sUBURBANwARLORD137
@SuburbanWarl0rd · X

https://t.co/A81p8QQlGp

Sep 13, 2021 · 225 followers View post →
Max Müller
@allelsewastaken · X

@NunesAlt @blmskeptical @DevinCow The title of the paper discussed is literally "Benign violations: Making immoral behavior funny," It argues that THERE ARE ways to make violations benign, and therefore a way to make them funny.

Aug 9, 2021 · 278 followers View post →
Yuuko Morimoto
@myuuko · X

良性の道徳違反(状況が許容可能,規範へのコミットメントが弱い,違反から心理的距離)は笑いや娯楽をもたらすが,同時に嫌悪感ももたらしているよという研究。いろいろと当てはまるところが多そうな話。/ Benign violations: making immoral behavior funny https://t.co/fc58AufHZo

Feb 23, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 9,273 followers View post →
UP PUGAD Sayk
@UPPUGADSayk · X

Stay tuned for more #ThemedTalinoTuesdays by following UP PUGAD Sayk on Facebook and Twitter! Reference: McGraw, A. P., & Warren, C. (2010). Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny. Psychological Science, 21(8), 1141–1149. Pub by: Simon Escala (2/2)

Apr 7, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 570 followers View post →