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Famous comedian and writer John Cleese told Peter Mansbridge that humour facilitates conflict resolution. Cleese argued that when people are anxious and stressed they hold on tightly to their views and are not receptive to the opinions of others. However, when people laugh they are relaxed and more willing to see the other side.

This begs the question: why are legal disputes often mediated/negotiated in stiff, cold environments? Such a context would seem to hamper rather than enable conflict resolution.