Re: Mooji a cult?

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The Manipulative Side of Laughter
University of California researchers Gregory A. Bryant and C. Athena Aktipis conducted studies around the thesis of laughter as a “co-evolutionary arms race” where two members of a species use evolutionary biology to manipulate communication. The researchers describe how genuine, spontaneous laughter signals other humans that they are seeking a positive relationship or at least a non-threatening one. After all, laughter is “known to trigger cataplexy,” or decreased muscle strength, which puts individuals in a more vulnerable state.

This means that volitional laughter can give a person the upper hand if you believe their non-threatening signals. A suspect can fake laughter to throw you off or weaken your position if they manage to make you laugh. Suspects also pretend to laugh in response to threatening questions or to avoid answering a question.

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The Human Connection Through Laughter
All laughter is a kind of mimicry, which is why when someone laughs, we often laugh too, even if we don’t find the situation funny. Suspects use various forms of mimicry, such as repeating words, using the same cadence as another person, or using volitional laughter to manipulate people. Law enforcement can also use mimicry to counter their behavior by refusing to mimic or taking note of their deceptive signals.

While laughter can be used by suspects to throw off an investigator, law enforcement can also use the mimicry of laughter to connect with suspects. When someone mirrors our behavior, we’re more likely to relate to them, and we feel a bond with the people we laugh with. Laughter releases endorphins and simply makes people feel good, and while the goal of interviewing a suspect isn’t to make them feel happy, it certainly doesn’t hurt to put the suspect at ease. Building rapport and making a person feel comfortable is one of the hallmarks of the CVSA interview. If someone smiles or laughs, it means they are comfortable in the environment.