Why Do We Cry? The Cognitive-Affective Science Behind Tears
Crying is a fascinating human behavior as it can occur in various settings. We cry when we are sad, overjoyed, or even laughing too hard. Sometimes, we might feel shame, embarrassment, happiness, sadness, or even inspiration when we cry. The question is, why are there so many emotions surrounding crying, and what is the purpose?
There are three main types of tears when we cry: basal, reflex, and emotional. Basal tears are constantly produced to maintain a lacrimal film on the corneal surface, providing lubrication and protection to help the eye remain healthy (Liang, 2023). Reflex tears are then produced in response to irritating stimuli, such as inflammation, foreign body invasion, or exposure to irritants like vapors, smoke, onions, dust, etc. Emotional tears are unique to humans and are triggered by joy, grief, or distress. Emotional tears serve as social signals, expressing the need for help or empathy. Emotional tears can be categorized into both positive and negative tears. Positive emotional tears are joyous ones caused by emotions like happiness, love, or inspiration (Liang, 2023). Negative emotional tears are triggered by sadness, loss, or fear.
Our body produces the need to cry through a variety of different networks. One being the parasympathetic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve. This nerve plays a crucial role in tear production and emotional regulation (Bylsma, 2018). Some of the critical brain structures involved in emotional crying include the periaqueductal gray (PAG), amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and various components of the central automatic network (CAN).The PAG controls the facial muscles and voice when crying. The amygdala is responsible for feeling strong emotions like sadness or fear. The ACC helps us to notice how we feel and how to react. Our CAN is a group of brain areas that control automatic body responses, like heart rate or breathing, that can change while crying (Bylsma, 2018). Crying also releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and oxytocin, contributing to emotional relief and self-soothing feelings (Suttie, 2024).
Crying is an important behavior that helps to signal that the individual is experiencing distress symptoms and may need support or assistance. This signal can elicit positive social behavior from observers, such as offering comfort or help (Barthelmas, 2024). Emotional crying can stimulate bonding between the crying individual and the observer. Observers are more likely to help and show empathy towards crying individuals, especially if they are familiar or close to them (Barthelmas, 2024). The social function of crying is influenced by a variety factors, such as the relationship between the individual who is crying and the observer, the context of the situation, and the specific emotional triggers. These factors determine the type and extent of help provided and the overall social dynamics involved.
Some people cry more than others due to differences in personality, upbringing, and cultural norms. Factors influencing crying frequency include personality, attachment style, mental health, and cultural background (Vingerhoets, 2016). Differences in crying may stem from exposure to emotional situations, our perceptions of situations, crying thresholds, and social acceptance of tears (Vingerhoets, 2016). Factors influencing the benefits of crying include personality, psychological state, and the nature of the eliciting event.
Overall, crying is an essential function for our biological and psychological responses, as tears help us utilize emotional regulation, increase communication, and improve our mental well-being. The next time you cry, whether from sadness, joy, or frustration, remember that it is your brain’s way of helping you process the world.
References
Barthelmäs, M., Stöckle, D., & Keller, J. (2024). On the social signal function of emotional crying: Broadening the perspective to social interactions in daily life. Emotion, 24(4), 960–974. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001313
Bylsma, L. M., Gračanin, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. (2018). The Neurobiology of Human Crying. Clinical Autonomic Research, 29(1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-018-0526-y
Liang, H., Wu, S., Yang, D., Huang, J., Yao, X., Gong, J., Qing, Z., Tao, L., & Peng, Q. (2023). Non-targeted metabolomics analysis reveals distinct metabolic profiles between humans' positive and negative emotional tears: A preliminary study. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42985
Suttie, J. (2024). Why It’s Good for You to Cry. Great Good Science Center.
Vingerhoets, A. J., & Bylsma, L. M. (2016). The Riddle of Human Emotional Crying: A challenge for emotion researchers. Emotion Review, 8(3), 207–217. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073915586226