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Are funny ads actually more π’Žπ’†π’Žπ’π’“π’‚π’ƒπ’π’†? | Nudge Newsletter

Published 5 months agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

Humor Effect

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Are funny ads actually more π’Žπ’†π’Žπ’π’“π’‚π’ƒπ’π’†?
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That's what seven CalifornianΒΉ researchers set out to test in 2014.
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A group of participants were instructed to remember a long list of words.
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50% of the participants then waited for 20 minutes in silence. 🀫
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50% of the participants then watched a funny 20-minute video. 🀣
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The researchers asked both groups to recall as many words as possible.
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Those who sat in silence remembered just 20% of the words. 🀫
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For those who watched the humourous video, it was 44% 🀣
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A 𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐟𝐨π₯𝐝 increase in 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚π₯π₯.
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Which is why Specsavers has kept the same comedic slogan for 24 years.

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I should add that The Hustle also has a great sense of humour.

Hope you enjoyed today's newsletter β€” Phill​

ΒΉΒΉBains, G. S., Berk, L. S., Daher, N. S., Lohman, E., Schwab, E., Petrofsky, J., & Deshpande, P. (2014). The effect of humor on short-term memory in older adults: A new component for whole-person wellness. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, 28(2), 16–24.

As a behavioural science practitioner, I believe in the peak-end rule.

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Nudge Newsletter

Phill Agnew

I spend 18 hours each week turning marketing psychology into readable newsletters.

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