1. 15 Shades
of Laughter"
By Gay Merrill"
"

2. “Hearty laughter is a good way to jog
internally without having to go
outdoors.”"
--Norman Cousins!
"

3. It starts with the feeling that
one corner of your mouth is
upturned.!
1

4. You
Smirk"

5. Next, your mouth widens so that
it resembles the shape of an
orange wedge.!
A release of endorphins makes
you want to dance...but you
resist.!
2

6. You
Smile"

7. You experience a tightening of
your facial muscles as your
eyes widen and your smile
expands.!
3

8. You
Grin"

9. A soft throaty sound emerges
from your tightened lips. (If you
try to stifle it, you risk gas
buildup.)!
4

10. You
Snicker"

11. Now you’re half way to
laughing. The sound you make
is amusing. Any effort you
make to suppress the laughter
only increases its strength.!
5

12. You
Giggle"

13. Your chest muscles engage
and your pitch deepens.!
6

14. You
Chuckle"

15. You sound like a cross
between Chuckles the Clown
and Miss Piggy.!
7

16. You
Chortle"

17. You emit a full force sound of
glee. Head is back and mouth
open wide. You might be
contagious causing others
around you to make similar
sounds.!
8

18. You
Laugh"

19. You sound wicked, but you’re
really laughing with a higher
pitch.!
9

20. You
Cackle"

21. Now you’re whole body is set
in motion. You stomp your feet,
wave your arms, or slap your
thighs. Tears of joy stream
down your face.!
10

22. You
Guffaw"

23. You feel like a wolf during a full
moon.!
11

24. You
Howl"

25. You sound like you’ve seen a
ghost when you’re really just
overcome with hilarity.!
12

26. You
Shriek"

27. You can’t distinguish your
laugh from the sound of a
crowd laughing.!
13

28. You
Roar"

29. You’re on the floor in a fit of
laughter.!
14

30. You
Convulse"

31. You experience the final shade
of laughter with flushed cheeks
and a sense of elation and
renewal.!
15

32. You
Die
Laughing"

33. 15
Shades of Laughter Recap"
1 Smirk! 2 Smile! 3 Grin!
4 Snicker! 5 Giggle! 6 Chuckle!
7 Chortle! 8 Laugh! 9 Cackle!
10 Guffaw! 11 Howl! 12 Shriek!
13 Roar! 14 Convulse! 15 Die
Laughing!

34. Credits"
Inspiration"
Reference: Kuhn, C. (1994). The stages of laughter.
Journal of Nursing Jocularity,4(2), 34-35.
"
Photos"
Slide 8: Flickr/Peter Funnell/Smile!/May 2011 !
Slide 10: Flickr/Baxton/What’s So Funny?/Jan 2008!
Slide 28: Flickr/John Willis/Laughing Lion-2/Feb 2009!
Slide 30: Flickr/Kevin Hamm/ROGL/June 2008!
!
http://touchofhumor.wordpress.com/"