Friday, June 14, 2013
Not Funny (6.3)
Mlodinow reports that "a 2010 study by a group of researchers in Berkeley found a case in which a habit of congratulatory slaps to the skull really is associated with successful group interactions" (136). Yet earlier this summer, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson was sent to jail for 30 days because of the congratulatory slap on the butt that he gave his lawyer when the judge initially indicated that he was not going to be sent to jail. The judge declared Johnson's slap to be an indicator that the celebrity athlete was not taking the judicial proceedings seriously. Does the Berkeley study suggest that the judge may have misinterpreted Johnson's behavior? Does the Berkeley study suggest that cultures in which touching is more common are likely to be more successful in which touching is less common?
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In one sense, yes. Chad Johnson did not want to make light of the situation, he simply wanted to congratulate his lawyer and thank him for his efforts in getting Chad Johnson out of trouble. That being said, Chad Johnson should have also understood that certain behaviors in formal settings are considered out of order where they might otherwise be considered common place.
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