Why Do We
Cry?
The Science
Behind Tears
Most of us
start crying when we feel sad, under intense stress, or angry. Sometimes,
people even cry because of happiness.
But did you
know that humans are the only known living beings who shed tears due to
emotions?
Although many
animals cry loudly after birth to express pain or discomfort, their brains do
not appear to have the neural pathways needed to produce tears in response to
complex emotions.
Scientists
understand how tears are produced, but why humans cry emotionally — and why
tears flow during strong feelings — is still not fully understood.
What Are
Tears?
According to
Dr. Mary Banierehelavet, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Human
Biology in Switzerland, tears consist of five main components:
- Mucus
- Electrolytes
- Water
- Proteins
- Lipids
Speaking to the
BBC World Service program Crowd Science, she explained that each of
these components serves a different purpose. For example:
- Proteins help fight viruses and bacteria
- Electrolytes are minerals essential for bodily
functions
Three Types
of Tears
Researchers say
there are three types of tears:
1) Basal
Tears
These are
always present on the surface of the eyes and keep them moist.
2) Reflex
Tears
These are
produced when dust, smoke, or an insect enters the eye.
This sensation is detected by nerve cells in the cornea.
The cornea
is the transparent protective outer layer of the eye, and it contains more
nerve cells than any other part of the body.
These nerves
can detect:
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Dryness
Signals from
these nerves travel to a brain region called the lacrimal nucleus, which
controls tear production.
Emotional
Tears
The third type
of tears is emotional tears — and they are the most complex.
The parts of
the brain that control emotions are connected to the tear-producing system, but
this connection is more complex than a simple reflex response.
According to
Professor Ed Vingerhoets from Tilburg University in the Netherlands,
crying often reflects a mix of emotions rather than a single feeling.
He says:
“Emotions are
rarely pure. They are often a combination of multiple feelings.”
How Crying
Changes with Age
According to
Vingerhoets:
- Physical pain is a major cause of crying in children
- Adults cry more due to empathy, sadness, and social
emotions
- As we grow older, we increasingly cry over the
suffering of others
Positive
emotions such as:
- Extreme happiness
- Major achievements
- Natural beauty
can also
trigger tears.
Does Crying
Make Us Feel Better?
Many people say
they feel relieved after crying, but scientists continue to study whether this
is always true.
Psychologist Lauren
Bylsma from the University of Pittsburgh found that:
- Heart rate increases before crying
- This reflects activation of the body’s “fight or
flight” system
- Once crying begins, the calming nervous system
becomes more active
However,
Vingerhoets emphasizes that crying does not always make people feel better —
especially those suffering from depression or burnout.
It also depends
on:
- What we are crying about
- Whether the situation is under our control
- Whether people around us are supportive
Tears: A
Social Signal
Research
suggests that tears can influence other people’s behavior.
An Israeli
study found that:
- Men who smelled emotional tears from women became
less aggressive than those who smelled a salty solution
Scientists
believe tears act as a social signal, showing that we need help and
encouraging empathy and support from others.
Children’s
Tears and Evolution
A baby’s crying
activates caregiving responses in adults’ brains.
According to
Vingerhoets, human tears may have evolved because:
- Human childhood lasts longer
- Children depend on parents for extended periods
One theory
suggests that a child’s crying may reduce adult aggression, serving as a
protective mechanism.
Why Do Some
People Cry More?
According to
Lauren Bylsma:
- Men cry about once a month on average
- Women cry four to five times a month
This difference
may be linked to:
- Neurological factors
- Hormonal differences
- Personality traits
- Levels of empathy
She also found
that:
- More empathetic people tend to cry more
- Neurotic or extroverted individuals are also more
likely to cry
Conclusion
Crying is not
just a sign of weakness — it is:
- A biological response
- An emotional expression
- A social signal
As Vingerhoets
puts it:
“Crying is a
symbolic marker that tells us this moment truly matters.”
Post a Comment