Kamala Harris has a contagious laugh. Her opponents see it as a weakness to exploit, but experts say it’s one of her most effective weapons.
Recently, Donald Trump gave Vice President Harris one of his typically childish, unflattering nicknames: “Laffin’ Kamala Harris.” He said, “You can tell a lot by a laugh.”
That week, edited videos of Harris cackling circulated online. The National Republican Senatorial Committee even addressed her “inappropriate laughter” under the subject heading, Weird, describing it as over the top and unstable.
Why is Kamala Harris laughing like an imbecile? pic.twitter.com/JVbDGlGXJw
— Eva McMillan ♥️ (@EvasTeslaSPlaid) August 5, 2024
Sadly, we’ve seen this before. Hillary Clinton was also criticized for her laugh when she ran for the presidency. It, too, was called “weird,” and there were suggestions that it made her seem inauthentic, a common sexist trope used to reduce women to nothing more than just overly emotional, hysterical and unreasonable.
There’s no doubt that Harris’s replacement of Biden as the Democratic frontrunner has brought a whole new level of excitement to the presidential race. Gone are the days of a soft-spoken, sometimes halting president. Now, we have lively rallies, hilarious coconut memes, and jokes about the opposing team’s questionable couch activities, not to mention her newly appointed running mate, who has a wicked sense of humor.
While there are some who think her laughter is excessive and disingenuous, there’s a ton of research and testimony from mental health professionals to suggest that it is a reassuring sign of her humanity. As it turns out, no matter what your goals are in life, laughter and joy provide the fuel that can supercharge them.
Kamala trying so hard not to burst out laughing at that couch joke has me ???????? pic.twitter.com/GfHG1nXdFC
— Renee ???? (@PettyLupone) August 6, 2024
Joy = Energy
In an article in Psychology Today, Psychologists Gabriela Khazanov, Ph.D. and Courtney Forbes, M.A., M.Ed., note how “we often ignore or underestimate the power of positive emotions, especially when we’re used to not feeling them.” Smiles, enthusiasm and delight play a unique role in our lives. They help us to become more resilient, develop coping skills and improve our overall health, both mentally and physically. Plus, they allow us to see things from different angles, get creative, form meaningful relationships and act thoughtfully towards ourselves and others.
Khazanov and Forbes point out that the opposite of joy isn’t depression but a psychological condition called anhedonia. It’s when you can’t seem to feel pleasure or find any motivation to have fun or do meaningful things. When we’re feeling down, we usually notice our negative emotions and how they keep us feeling blah. Still, we don’t always realize that we’re lacking positive emotions, too.
The doctors also note that not having any laughter or joy in our lives doesn’t always make us feel miserable. Instead, it drains our energy and makes us lose motivation. Everything seems a little less bright, and we can’t quite put our finger on why. Anhedonia keeps us stuck in our moods with our heads down, unable to see a way out. But when something changes for the better, things that seemed impossible or unimportant suddenly feel doable; and familiar situations can feel completely different.
For many of us, these feelings were evident during President Biden’s quest to retain his reelection bid amid a stagnant campaign. It seemed as if we were possessed by a lethargic haze of concern and confusion. But when he exited the presidential race and endorsed Harris to take on Trump, everything shifted. That low-energy spell was broken. Overnight, we saw a resuscitated campaign filled with record-breaking donations, a coalition built by Zoom calls, an inspirational Beyoncé soundtrack, a pleasantly down-to-earth political co-partner in Minnesota governor Tim Walz and, most of all, hope.
The experts say that Harris’ friendly energy is encouraging. It is a reminder to us that it’s not just about dealing with the negatives, but also about embracing positivity.
Kamala’s good vibes are a breath of fresh air. They motivate us to think outside the box, be more creative, and approach our challenges with compassion.
