Human Emotional Crying: Why Evolution is Not a Far Cry

INTRODUCTION

SPIRAL CONCLUSION

POSSIBLE SOURCES

Natural Selection; Darwin's refute

Hook

Thesis

.

B3: PSYCHO-BEHAVIOURAL

B2: BIOLOGICAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL

B1: EVOLUTIONARY

The Riddle of Human Emotional Crying...

Exploring the Concept of Manliness

Crying During Adolescence

decrease perception gaze od direction/changes in pupil size

Crying That Heals

Age-Related Changes in the Signal Value of Tears

Is Crying Beneficial?

Emotional Tears as Biological Signals

handicaps defensive/aggressive actions

increases vulnerability = signals submission/social need for help

humans are social animals with tight + needy social relationships, only animals that cry with tears in response to emotional events

evolved as an attachment behaviour that unites infant + mother/caregiver + receiver

DARWIN: crying = purposeless phenomenon (contradicts basic tenets of theory of natural selection)

arousing + calming effects

ritual weeping = social bonding + connectedness

newborn/infants: mostly acoustic signal = health + distress

boys cry less frequently with age: social learning, male hormonal factors

students in romantic relationships: decreased serotonin in brain = affects crying threshold = cry more often than singles

lacrimal glands clear blood, remove stress hormones (toxins) produced during distress = relief

increased PNS activity = improved mood, stimulates relaxation + recovery; rhythmic sobbing/inhalation of cool air = improve mood

crying shows social trust + need for attachment = improves social cohesion + bonding

emotional tears = more proteins that affect viscosity; contain larger quantities of hormones; stays longer on the face -- prolonged visual cue for care

elicits sympathy, inhibits irritation, provokes intervention

effectiveness to convey sadness greatest for adults; infant crying = annoying (paradox: irritation = intervention)

boys have more social pressure to inhibit tears (intrapsychic inhibitory phenomenon, internalized concept of manliness)

most common trigger = powerlessness

women more vulnerable to interpersonal traumas + emotional disturbances

Bowlby: triggers attention and support

release of superfluous emotional energy/relief of tension; failure to cry = detrimental to physical functioning (manifests as other physical ailments)