About crying
October 12th 2006 07:51
Perhaps there's only two reasons for crying: we cry out of need, or we cry to release some emotion.
The first is often explained in evolutionary terms: if the baby doesn't tell the mother to feed it, then the mother won't know to feed it. The second is a matter of efficient biology: if you can't get rid of the emotional build up in violence, then you laugh or cry it out. Everyone knows that the two are linked.
Are there any more reasons to cry than need and release? Perhaps all the times we ever cry -- from violence, at cruelty, at injustice, in happiness, in relief -- are all to do with need or release.
Of course, tears don't necessarily relieve cognitive pain. If you're sorry for someone, weeping takes the edge off it. But this is merely to treat the symptoms.
Note 1: There are other advantages to crying.
Possibly, if you're physically injured, crying gives you something else to think about -- it to some extent relieves physical pain.
Possibly, crying from hurt is also to do with placating the enemy. If you pick a fight with an animal, at first it fights back, then it runs, then it cowers and whimpers.
Note 2: Tears, as opposed to crying, claims a bioscientist friend, are a byproduct of some sort of hormonal reaction. What else could be the evolutionary advantage of them?
The first is often explained in evolutionary terms: if the baby doesn't tell the mother to feed it, then the mother won't know to feed it. The second is a matter of efficient biology: if you can't get rid of the emotional build up in violence, then you laugh or cry it out. Everyone knows that the two are linked.
Are there any more reasons to cry than need and release? Perhaps all the times we ever cry -- from violence, at cruelty, at injustice, in happiness, in relief -- are all to do with need or release.
Of course, tears don't necessarily relieve cognitive pain. If you're sorry for someone, weeping takes the edge off it. But this is merely to treat the symptoms.
Note 1: There are other advantages to crying.
Possibly, if you're physically injured, crying gives you something else to think about -- it to some extent relieves physical pain.
Possibly, crying from hurt is also to do with placating the enemy. If you pick a fight with an animal, at first it fights back, then it runs, then it cowers and whimpers.
Note 2: Tears, as opposed to crying, claims a bioscientist friend, are a byproduct of some sort of hormonal reaction. What else could be the evolutionary advantage of them?
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