The Use of Emotion and Laughter in Mock Jury Deliberations

Abstract

Previous research has shown that, despite pressure to keep them at bay, jurors often experience emotion while deliberating. Emotions may help jurors communicate their thoughts and feelings with one another. The current study examines how jurors use their emotions and laughter to interact with one another while deliberating a mock civil discrimination trial about the plaintiff’s claim that she was discriminated against when a department store security officer stopped her and searched her belongings in full view of other customers. Specifically, this project explores how anger, contempt, sympathy and empathy, laughter, and humor are all used as communication devices in deliberation. Transcripts and video recordings of three mock juries were qualitatively analyzed. Results indicated that only male jurors expressed frustration and anger towards other jurors, jurors across race and gender identities felt sympathy for the plaintiff, and that a majority of jurors shared laughter with one another. The results continue to expand our knowledge about how jurors use emotion while deliberating in civil cases, as well as set a foundation for further research into the use of humor and laughter in jury deliberations.