Doris Bazzini of Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., said that shared laughter can create a buffer in relationships so that when arguments or misunderstandings arise, they don't affect the relationship as much.

"In other words, we can bounce back more quickly," Bazzini said in a statement. "When you share a laugh with someone, there's a connection between the two of you, when you reminisce, you get to experience the laughter again, but you also get to reflect on it now -- 'remember that time?'"

People can build on this laughter and reminiscing and as a result, two things happen -- people define their relationship in positive terms and they validate themselves at the same time, Bazzini said.