Why humans cry

Send new questions to nq theguardian. This helps you calm down. According to some researchers and scientists, crying is important for enhancing immune resilience. Laughing is too. Crying can trigger the release of opioids, which can influence the activity of immune cells, which may help our immune system become more effective. It could be regarded as an important mechanism that better protects our bodies when dealing with stressors, both internal and external.

It can be awkward, as many people can feel uncomfortable with the display of tears. The human body is essentially a full functioning chemistry production facility. There are many triggers for a medley of different chemical responses. Many people are familiar with adrenaline activating during times of fear or excitement or dopamine triggering good feelings during times of accomplishment or relief. Sadness has a chemical response as well, and it can be observed in the simple act of crying.

So what exactly are those distinctions? The most relevant difference is that crying produces leucine enkephalin.

This is why people feel better after a good cry. Crying is healthy, and it feels good. Phoenix Emberson, Texas. This article suggests among other competing theories that crying is predominately a social signal that tells others you have a problem you cannot properly address.

To be comforted and supported, perhaps. That gives an evolutionary advantage. Although we often cry alone, we often seek comfort from others, too. Trimble: Theory of mind refers to an area of social cognition which has developed hugely in humans, although similar abilities in much more limited forms have been shown in chimpanzees.

The ability to feel compassion, the embodiment of which relates to our capacity for empathy, is triggered by what the neurologist Antonio Damasio refers to as emotionally competent stimuli.

The responses are automatic, unconscious and bound in with our personal memories. Seeing facial expressions of sadness trigger the neuronal circuits related to theory of mind and empathy, which to some extent overlap, and involve, in part, those brain areas that give us our visceral, emotional feelings noted above. The tear, as part of the expression of suffering, became an emblem embroidering the expression. The tear, mythological linked with purity with a pearl shape has provided an image which, over time, has come by itself to symbolise sadness, grief, but also joy in music, poetry and the visual arts.

Cook: What lesson do you think this holds for us? Trimble: Tears are a natural response to not only suffering, but also to feeling compassion for someone who is shedding tears. There has been much reluctance, especially on behalf of men, to admit to crying, and to crying in public. Yet Greek heroes such as Agamemnon and Achilles cried, and has seen many public tears, from the winners and losers in the Olympic games, to President Obama who cried after his re-election victory.

We should not be afraid of our emotions, especially those related to compassion, since our ability to feel empathy and with that to cry tears, is the foundation of a morality and culture which is exclusively human. Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science, or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about? He can be reached at garethideas AT gmail. Already a subscriber?

Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. If you find yourself crying more than usual , especially for what seems like no reason at all, it may help to talk to a therapist.

There are a lot of reasons…. Pent-up anger getting the best of you? Learn how to release it in a productive way. We all worry and get upset from time to time. Just like the rain, tears act as a cleanser, washing away the buildup to reveal a new foundation. If your eyes are swollen from crying, there are several things you can do to quickly relieve any redness, puffiness, or dryness. An introvert is often thought of as a quiet, reserved, and thoughtful individual.

Experts say the COVID pandemic added to the stresses of job insecurity and food shortages already felt by People of Color and young adults.

You've heard the term countless times, but what does having a type A personality actually mean? We'll go over common traits, how they compare to type…. Psychologists and psychiatrists have a lot in common, but they also have some key differences. Nothing is. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. To get help. To relieve pain. To form and strengthen social bonds.

To process emotions.