Viewpoint: Why Do We Cry? Are Tears 'Purposeless'?

Life & Times

Viewpoint

Why do we cry? Are tears Here, Dutch professor of clinical psychology Ad Vingerhoets proposes an elegant theory. ‘purposeless’? Given, in some prehistoric circumstances, that crying could be risky, Vingerhoets explains There is no doubting that Charles Darwin that crying could be less risky than shouting is celebrated as one of the greatest British loudly. It would also portray the preyed upon scientists. His views on evolution rewired as being harmless or submissive.3 world thinking; in his time, his ideas were Crying is an emotional signal of nothing short of revolutionary. But when it pacification and appeasement. This may came to the human propensity to sob, Darwin well have helped early human settlements dubbed emotional tears as ‘purposeless’.1 to thrive in trusting cohesive communities. Was Darwin right? He argues that sobbing is a tool enabling Many doctors confess to crying at work — social connectedness. Tears may have been whether openly in front of patients or behind a key player in humanity’s prosocial and the scenes; whether it is from compassion moral development; we care for the sick for an ill patient or from the overwhelming and the disabled. The ability to empathise is nature of endless responsibility. Yet more central. Indeed, recent research has shown doctors have probably sobbed but not that crying individuals are more likely to “Perhaps the notion with admitted to it, perhaps perceiving it as be perceived as being honest and reliable improper or a weakness. Like it or not, the greatest currency is compared with non-crying individuals.4 crying is part of our emotional toolkit. In It is easy to understand why infants cry. that crying is a gesture of recent decades, many scientists have offered They are defenceless to the world around ideas on this evolutionary oddity; however, surrender. Tears could be them. Growth into adulthood mostly sees the reason for this fundamentally human to the vulnerabilities of infancy. But there a form of social signalling: trait remains a mystery. are still times of helplessness in life. Tears a white flag to caregivers Crying is defined as the shedding of tears are still a detectable indication that support in response to an emotional state. This is or the community different from lacrimation, which is the non- is needed. This theory is backed by an of helplessness and emotional shedding of tears. It may surprise interesting observation: emotional tears you to know that there are actually three contain a higher protein content. Being more vulnerability.” types of tears: basal tears that lubricate the viscous, they stick to the skin, taking longer cornea; reflex tears that rinse away foreign to roll down the face. Unlike the glow in your particles; and psychic tears, the sobbing, heart when you’re in love, or the fire in your weeping, wailing tears that are produced in belly when you’re angry, tears are a visible response to a strong emotion. But why has clue to someone’s feelings. evolution allowed this seemingly pointless The jury is out on the truth that crying peculiarity to persist? is cathartic. Certainly, some feel sobbing Many scientists have thrown their is a psychological tonic. Other researchers investigative hats into the ring and a variety believe the result actually comes from the of ideas have emerged. Perhaps the notion comforting reactions of others rather than 2 with the greatest currency is that crying the act of crying per se. is a gesture of surrender. Tears could be Ultimately, the experience of crying varies a form of social signalling: a white flag to from person to person. Everything from our caregivers or the community of helplessness gender and culture to our temperament REFERENCES and vulnerability. This is most apparent may have a bearing. Tears can accompany weddings, funerals, and our own private pain. 1. Darwin C. The expression of emotions in in infancy, when it is the only means of man and animals. London: Julian Friedman communication between parent and child. They are a symptom of a rich spectrum of Publishers, 1872. Indeed, the eminent psychiatrist John Bowlby emotion. 2. Nelson JK. The meaning of crying based long ago highlighted the role of crying in Perhaps there are some elements of on attachment theory. Clinical Social Work engendering attachment between mother the human spirit that are inaccessible to Journal 1998; 26: 9–22. and child.2 measurement and will remain baffling to 3. Vingerhoets A. Why study crying? http://www. Crying is a trait shared by other animals science? Was Darwin correct in labelling advingerhoets.com/research (accessed 27 tears ‘purposeless’? Feb 2020). too; however, it is only in humans that 4. Reed LI, Matari Y, Wu M, Janaswamy R. emotional tears are seen. Furthermore, it Charlotte Sidebotham, Emotional tears: an honest signal of is only in humans that the capacity to cry GP, Three Spires Medical Practice, Truro, Cornwall. trustworthiness increasing prosocial persists into adulthood. In many respects, this Email: [email protected] behavior?. Evol Psychol 2019; 17(3): makes no evolutionary sense. Sobbing would 1474704919872421. surely alert your presence to a predator. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X709049

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