Launcher opens for split second and then closes

Okay, so when I click on the little minecraft icon on the dashboard, it bounces two or three times like it should, and a little space opens for the launcher to show up, but nothing appears, and the gap closes immediately (it used to actually show the icon for a second before it disappeared, but as of late the space opens and closes). It doesn't even open all the way. It's like it crashes the instant it opens.