Why do we only cry? The mystery behind our emotional tears.
Whether for sadness, joy, stress, or the Sunday afternoon movie, to cry It is one of the most powerful and unifying expressions of human emotion. But from the scientific and evolutionary point of view, the involuntary act of spilling emotional tears remains a mystery that continues to intrigue the investigators.
Although many animals produce tears for practical purposes, such as eye lubrication or irritating removal, emotional crying seems to be an exclusively human feature.
Scientists have even identified today Three types of tears: the basal, who maintain the moisture of the eyes; Reflexes, caused by irritations such as dust or onion and emotional, produced during intense psychological experiences. It is this third category that is distinctly human, without confirmed parallels in the animal kingdom. Why did humans evolve to cry emotionally? There is no definitive answer.
Emotional tears seem to not offer no advantage for survival. Crying energy consumes, leaves the person vulnerable, and has no direct benefit in terms of predators or food. However, emotional crying is so deeply rooted in the human condition that we often measure the authenticity or depth of emotions by the presence of tears.
A theory suggests that emotional tears serve as a powerful way of Non -verbal communication. In primitive human societies, crying may have been a way of arousing empathy, comfort and social support. Crying may have helped us survive, not protecting others, but reinforcing social ties.
Another hypothesis connects emotional crying to physiological regulation of our body. Much like laughter, crying can serve as a liberation mechanism during times of emotional overload. There are researchers who suggest that tears are produced during transitions between intense emotional states, allowing the nervous system to recalibrate. This theory sees crying not only as an external demonstration, but as a internal reboot.
There is also a biochemical theory, more associated with the biochemist William Frey, which states that the crying can help eliminate toxins linked to stress of the body. However, theory has faced criticism due to the insufficiency of concrete evidence and the minimal impact of tears in terms of real removal of toxins.
But don’t other animals actually share tears with us?
Animals like elephants And dogs actually exhibit signs of emotional intelligence and social sensitivity. An example that comes to head is Rajuan elephant rescued in 2014 after five decades in captivity. The giant stated tears when his chains were removed, which lit a debate about whether elephants pass through the stages of mourning in a similar way to humans.
Os dogs They also show clearly emotional answers. A 2022 study at Azabu University in Japan, quoted by, revealed that dogs produced more tears by gathering with owners after a prolonged separation. The answer was associated with oxytocinhormone associated with affective bond. However, although this indicates emotional arousal, it does not prove that dogs cry * because of the emotion the same as humans.
At least for now, emotional crying remains a peculiar and moving brand of human experience.
