I spend a lot of time in my own head, and often find myself contemplating the most ridiculous things. Yesterday was no exception as I sat there wondering why humans cry? The more I thought about it, the more perplexed I was, because crying is actually a very complicated business.
I want to know why my eyes decide to leak water when I feel strong emotions!?
When I Googled “why do we cry?” I was not surprised to find that there is very little research on the topic, and I was hard pushed to find a theory that anyone could agree on.
Crying not only happens when we are sad, but also when we are happy, frustrated, angry, empathetic, and for many other reasons. From an evolutionary perspective the first time we cry is during infancy, when we are at our most helpless and signal that we are hungry, in pain, or uncomfortable. We learn that crying can get us the attention we need from humans to provide us with the things we desire.
As we get a little older we realize that crying can get us attention for more complex desires; [Enter screaming manipulative child]. We have all seen that kid having a meltdown in the store because they want a toy they can’t have. They have successfully mastered the skills of using tears to get a reaction out of others!
As we grow older (most of us) realize that crying doesn’t always produce the most successful outcome for getting what we want. Crying for attention is something we grow out of, but adults still cry, and we are not 100% certain why. One theory suggests that crying is rooted in our knee-jerk infantile responses when feeling helpless or vulnerable.
This got me wondering whether there is a correlation between ‘Locus of control’ and crying. Studies have shown that patients suffering from depression often report having a stronger external locus of control. Believing that we don’t have control can lead to feelings of helplessness or vulnerability, and our bodies react to this by shedding tears.
Some of the other more acceptable theories out there state that crying can be a way for us to connect socially with our fellow humans. Seeing others cry can trigger similar feelings of sadness or empathy, and activates the same parts of the brain as when we are crying ourselves.
Researchers have identified that there are benefits to having a good cry now and then because not only does it encourage others around us to provide emotional support, it also provides a certain amount of self-soothing. Some of the deepest sleeps I’ve had have been after crying, and it can also relieve my stress when it’s been building for some time.
There are also theories that in some instances crying can ease pain … (I have tested this theory multiple times by stubbing my toe on the corners of the bed!)
So, what goes on in the brain when we cry? Stay tuned for more information on the neuroscience behind crying. In the meantime, watch this Ted Talk!
Thanks for reading folks!
NeuroBundle 