A friend once mentioned to me that laughter is sign of fealty, he said that he had heard this from the teacher in one of his classes. I was wondering if there was any phychological truth behind this. How exactly does laughter affect our interpersonal relationships?
I can’t speak for others, but for me, laughter isn’t a sign of fealty. Sometimes I laugh at someone because I think they’re stupid. Or I’m drunk. Or nervous. Or whatever. But I suppose if you were with people you liked and were just having a good time, it would be kindof a bonding thing. B ut not a subservant thing. Maybe it depends on where you are on the social ladder or strenth of personality. I never heard anything like that in the psych classes I took.
Could the teacher have meant laughter at jokes that are not quite funny? I know my boss get a little extra “laugh time” for jokes than other employees with similar jokes. Apparently noticing if somebody laugh a “little too much” at your jokes is a way to know if they are interested in you.
Was it a psych teacher? I’ve never heard of laughter=fealty in any historical context.
At the risk of getting flamed, there is a wierd little giggle thing that many women do that seems to mean “you are strong and powerful and will protect me and solve my problems for me”. Fortunately not ALL women do it.
Just to save everyone a couple of clicks, for I am obsequious to the masses:
Main Entry: fe·al·ty
Pronunciation: 'fE(-&)l-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: alteration of Middle English feute, from Old French feelté, fealté, from Latin fidelitat-, fidelitas – more at FIDELITY
Date: 14th century
1 a : the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord b : the obligation of such fidelity
2 : intense fidelity
Just to save us any note of copyright violation, here is how it should read:
fe•al•ty "fe(-e)l-te\ noun pl fe•al•ties [alter. of ME feute, fr. OF feelte, fealte, fr. L fidelitat-, fidelitas — more at fidelity] (14c)
1 a : the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord
b : the obligation of such fidelity
2 : intense fidelity syn see fidelity
©1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Also, much more informative:
fealty noun
syn FIDELITY 1, allegiance, ardor, devotion, faithfulness, loyalty, piety
rel faith, trueness, truth; dependability, reliability, trustworthiness; devotedness, support
con disloyalty, traitorousness, treacherousness
ant perfidy
©1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. All rights reserved.