Why Do We Cry? What Is The Science Behind Our Tears? – News18

Last Updated:November 18, 2024, 19:04 IST

In childhood, we cry for personal needs like pain or hunger, but as we grow, crying evolves with emotional and social connections, often becoming less frequent and intense

Humans are the only creatures who shed tears while crying. Tears may flow in sorrow, in happiness, sometimes in pain, and at times in shock. While tears also emerge from the eyes of other creatures, scientists believe that those usually serve as lubricants for eye protection. However, humans cry in specific emotional states, and the tears produced in these instances are not just for eye protection.

In a report by the New York Times, researchers have tried to unveil the science behind crying and why do people cry. However, researchers believe that the tears that emit owing to our emotions are much more complex than neuroscientists had thought.

Firstly, there is no single area in our brain that is responsible for emotions like sadness or anger. Scientists still have to investigate which part of our brain is responsible when we cry. Scientists are slowly making some progress in this matter and efforts are being made to understand the reason behind tears.

Scientists believe that there are three types of tears in humans. Practically, almost every organism that has eyes produces two sets of tears: basal and reflex. Basal tears keep the eye moist, while reflex tears protect the eye from external things like dust. Every organism has these tears, but humans also shed a third type of tears, which are called emotional tears. These are shed when there is more happiness, sadness, frustration, disappointment, or being overwhelmed by someone. These are unique to the human species.

Many animals scream in times of distress. Experts believe that, with time, we and other animals have also learnt this to survive. During childhood, mammals and birds are solely dependent on their parents. In times of crisis, they perform actions through their body language to request their parents to save them from this crisis.

For example, when a chick or a baby goat is hungry or scared of someone or is in pain for some reason, they make sounds like crying at that time. When these animals cry, it is not human like since they are not emotional tears. But when a newborn human baby cries, those are emotional tears which can melt ones heart.

After one or two months after birth, tears start coming out of children while crying. It is not known why humans start crying when they are upset.

According to Ad Vingerhoets, Emeritus Professor of clinical psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands said, “It is possible that when we cry, there is extra pressure on the eyes and, due to this, the tear glands become active. This may be the reason that when we laugh loudly or have hiccups or vomit, tears come out of our eyes even though we do not want them to.”

Once, thousands of people were asked when they cried the last time and what they felt after that. Half the respondents shared that they felt better after crying.

In the initial years of our lives, we shed tears mainly related to our own experiences like experiencing some pain in our knee or when we are bitten by an insect or when we are hungry. However, as we grow older and become more socially and emotionally connected, the reasons behind crying start changing. We scream less loudly or shed less tears when we feel pain during an injury or when we are sad.

The most common reason for crying when we start growing up is when we miss our home when in childhood, or when we suffer from a heartbreak during adolescence or when someone close to us die.

When someone holds special significance for us, we may also cry at their hardships. These empathetic tears arise from our ability to imagine ourselves in their situation.

Scientists are actively researching this phenomenon, showing participants sad films and analysing their tears through scanning. However, the most prevalent reason for crying remains emotional sadness.

Another significant factor is a sense of helplessness or powerlessness, often accompanied by despair and tears. Similarly, some individuals cry when overwhelmed by strong emotions, be it happiness, anxiety, or shock.

Research conducted globally indicates that women cry more frequently than men. Experts suggest this discrepancy may stem from societal pressures and gender expectations.

According to Dr Jonathan Rotenberg, professor of psychology at Cornell University, “When a child is born, whether it is a boy or a girl, initially they cry in the same way, but when they grow up, tears immediately come out of the eyes of girls. Perhaps society teaches boys to be tougher.”

Boys, facing societal expectations, learn to suppress their tears. Hormones also play a crucial role. During male adolescence, testosterone levels surge, suppressing tears. Conversely, in females, rising oestrogen levels can amplify crying. However, further research is necessary to fully understand this complex interplay.