Someone asks a difficult question and, instead of answering immediately, you laugh. Maybe the question is uncomfortable, unexpectedly personal or simply hard to answer on the spot. The laugh may last only a second, but it can serve several possible psychological functions. It does not necessarily mean the person thinks the question is funny. Psychology research suggests laughter is a complex social behavior that can help regulate relationships, ease tension and communicate emotional states. At the same time, answering a difficult question requires cognitive work: understanding what was asked, deciding what to reveal and planning how to phrase the response.
Recent research on language production shows that people plan the content and form of answers while conversations are unfolding, especially when responding under time pressure.
