Why do people applaud themselves?

Yes , strange isn't it. Something to do with me, me, and aren't I clever, I suppose. I always think it looks very silly

Grammaretto - To me it's an expression of glee, delight at getting something right. If I get something right at home (like find the answer to a crossword clue), I will applaud and even jump in the air (if I'm standing).

And what's rude in one person's view is acceptable in e.g. another culture. For example in some African cultures, it is a mark of respect to remain with eyes downcast when talking to someone. We may find it rude if someone doesn't make eye contact whilst talking to us.

I guess what I'm saying is - who decided what's rude?

*decides ... not decided.

I've often wondered about that!

I wonder if it's almost automatic.

You hear applause and feel compelled to join in!

I should think that the warm up guy is clapping so they do it too.
I, too, think it looks odd.

I think it comes from American shows. I hate it when people - even though they may have won - jump up and down and scream. It is so puerile. Screams and the whistling from the audience is awful too.

Hmm. I think it's a recent phenomenon. I'm sure when I watched Crackerjack or Ask the Family as a child, you didn't see this.

I’ve never figured this out either. ?

Being a Calvinist child....self congratulation or any display of attempting to be a tall poppy was a definite no, no!

I can still hear my dad telling me, when I was about six, that we shouldn't clap ourselves.
That has stuck with me ever since, and I still can't get used to seeing it so often.

There are a lot of things that people do now that I don't think they did when I was a child (in the 60s). If I had jumped up and down and screamed loudly / uncontrollably with excitement, as seems to be the norm now, I think my parents would have sought medical help for me!

Yes where has it come from?. Punching the air too.
It's all self congratulatory. What happened to Modesty?

I went to a Presbyterian Sunday School Kalu and disapprove of this too.

I think in our day, it was considered wrong to appear boastful or pleased with yourself. It was left to others to praise you, appearing full of yourself was a definite no no. Unlike nowadays, when you are encouraged to boost yourself up at every touch and turn.
At a job interview once, I was asked to talk about something about myself of which I was ‘particularly proud’. Couldn’t think of anything, didn’t get the job!

That’s the upbringing that has moulded us both Grammaretto. Good manners, respectful and.......stop showing off?. Heard it more than once?

Clapping yourself annoys me. They always do it on the Graham Norton Show at the end. As others have said it just looks so wrong so I admire anyone who stops when their name is mentioned and doesn't clap themselves!

Me, too, Grammaretto and Kalu. Welsh chapel background here and ‘showing off’ was the worst sin you could possibly commit as a child.

Sea lions

Grannyknot is right in that there are cultural differences. Game shows often seem to be American in theme. I went to a wedding where the bride was Japanese - and never smiled once as it's considered impolite in public. She looked so miserable to me!

I think it's just people who aren't used to being in a TV studio hearing clapping and joining in.

It does look odd, but I don't think it's necessarily boastfulness - more embarrassment.

It reminds me of Soviet leaders in the old days of the Soviet Union applauding themselves at those great military demonstrations - row upon row of tanks and rockets in Red Square.

A friend of mine went on a quiz show and they were told they had to clap!

I should imagine they're told what to do.
Very little seems to be spontaneous on quiz shows.

Oh. I obviously should have read the post above.

I suspect, if it's widespread, they've been told to do it by the telly people, who manipulate contestants like you wouldn't believe!

I always thought it odd when Rusian leaders used to applaud themselves too.

Oh no people being expressive and enjoying themselves, how ghastly

Notanan2, that was pretty much my grandfather’s philosophy. If you’re enjoying yourself, it can’t be doing you any good!