Perhaps humans are the only creatures that cry for emotional reasons. But what is the nature of these emotional reasons? Psychologists from the University of Ulm in Germany and the University of Sussex in Britain attempted to answer this question in the journal "Motivation and Emotion," categorizing the reasons for crying into five categories: loneliness, helplessness, overwhelming pressure, harmony, and media consumption.
The researchers explained that the classification into these categories is based on the idea that emotional tears occur whenever basic psychological needs are unmet or are intensely satisfied. For instance, psychologists point out that the feeling of loneliness arises from the unmet need for closeness, which can lead to crying. This category also includes the loss of a loved one or homesickness. According to the researchers, tears of joy, on the other hand, occur after intense satisfaction of the need for harmony—such as tears of joy during a wedding.
Tears flow out of helplessness upon hearing news of someone’s death, for example. The researchers note that emotional tears can be clearly distinguished from what are called basal tears, which help to moisten and protect the eyes. The researchers excluded in their study the tears that flow as a reflex action to cold and wind or when cutting onions.
The researchers conducted two online surveys, asking individuals about the reasons for emotional tears. In another experiment, individuals were asked to write their daily diaries, which showed that, for instance, young people cry more than older adults due to feeling overwhelmed by burdens.
Psychologists view this study as a foundation for further research on the phenomenon of emotional tears. Co-researcher Johannes Keller, head of the social psychology department at the University of Ulm, stated that there is currently a lack of knowledge about the impact of tears on whether someone will support another person. Identifying the five most common reasons for crying could help answer these questions in the future.
