Photo Credit: By Eric Ward from Provo, UT, USA (Laughing) [CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

Laughter, be it a loud guffaw or a well-mannered giggle, is a universal way to express joy. But as it turns out, your chuckle reveals a lot more than the fact that you are happy. It enables listeners, even those that cannot observe you, instantly realize if you are having a good time with a close friend or laughing politely with a complete stranger.