When Laughter Does (and Does Not) Harm Trust

Abstract: Despite being a universal behavior, the impact of laughter on trust remains underexplored. Across three studies, we examine how the multifaceted functions of laughter render it an ambiguous interpersonal signal. We argue that this ambiguity can signal deception, negatively impact a speaker’s perceived honesty, and decrease trust during strategic communication interactions (e.g., presentations, interviews, negotiations). Contrary to the lay belief that laughter fosters social cohesion, we demonstrate that the ambiguity surrounding the cause of laughter increases the likelihood that a counterpart will attribute laughter to a motive to hide information, thereby harming trust and the perceived veracity of the claims. Combined, our findings contribute to the literature on communication, deception, and trust.

Keywords: Laughter; trust; deception