Does Crying Help?By MySpace.com/GayMarriage
From a biological perspective there are three kinds of tears; "Basal tears" are continuous and lubricate our eyes; "reflex or infant tears" occur when we chop onions or receive a blow to the eye; "emotional tears" are psychologically caused. There is a difference between the biochemical composition of emotional tears compared to the other tears (Frey et al, 1981). The protein concentration of emotional tears is 24% greater than irritant tears. The complex proteins in emotional tears were those involved in the human stress response. Frey proposed that tears performed a sort of physical catharsis, much like taking a shit, which expels toxins from the body.
It is a widespread belief that crying is therapeutic and also the converse, that failure to cry is a danger to our health. Randolph Cornelius (1986) systematically analysed the content of popular articles on weeping in the press from 1850 to 1985 and found a major theme was that crying was considered an important means of releasing physiological tensions; if it wasn't released, it would find an outlet in some other way, such as affecting the person's body and possibly causing disease.
It is a widespread belief that crying is therapeutic and also the converse, that failure to cry is a danger to our health. Randolph Cornelius (1986) systematically analysed the content of popular articles on weeping in the press from 1850 to 1985 and found a major theme was that crying was considered an important means of releasing physiological tensions; if it wasn't released, it would find an outlet in some other way, such as affecting the person's body and possibly causing disease.
A type of physiological catharsis was proposed by Efran & Spangler (1979). Following a period of sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, crying is part of a parasympathetic rebound effect in which tears serve to discharge arousal (Efran & Spangler 1979).
In a laboratory experiment it has been deteremined that while crying the person experiences raised levels of physiological arousal. When the arousal returns to previous levels, it is experienced as feeling better (Kraemer & Hastrup 1988). In other words, the person does not really feel better but only feels better by a sort of 'contrast effect' with their distress during crying.
People universally report crying is beneficial but the laboratory says something different.
In a laboratory experiment it has been deteremined that while crying the person experiences raised levels of physiological arousal. When the arousal returns to previous levels, it is experienced as feeling better (Kraemer & Hastrup 1988). In other words, the person does not really feel better but only feels better by a sort of 'contrast effect' with their distress during crying.
People universally report crying is beneficial but the laboratory says something different.
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