Crying: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Crying-girl.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A child crying.]][[File:A child sad that his hot dog fell on the ground.jpg|thumb|Another child crying.]] |
[[Image:Crying-girl.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A child crying.]][[File:A child sad that his hot dog fell on the ground.jpg|thumb|Another child crying.]] |
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The term '''crying''' (pronounced {{IPA|[ˈkraɪɪŋ]}} from [[Middle English]] ''crien'' or [[Old French]] ''crier'' <ref>Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary</ref>) commonly refers to the act of shedding [[tears]] as a response to an [[emotion|emotional state]] in [[humans]]. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex [[secretomotor]] phenomenon |
The term '''crying''' (pronounced {{IPA|[ˈkraɪɪŋ]}} from [[Middle English]] ''crien'' or [[Old French]] 'smakc tht all on the flow, smack tht give me some more, i loves hoe's and sluts, ooh ahh ahh mpph ow ow ow srry thses r sex soind! lolz'crier'' <ref>Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary</ref>) commonly refers to the act of shedding [[tears]] as a response to an [[emotion|emotional state]] in [[humans]]. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex [[secretomotor]] phenomenon |
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characterized by the shedding of tears from the [[lacrimal apparatus]], without any irritation |
characterized by the shedding of tears from the [[lacrimal apparatus]], without any irritation |
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of the [[ocular]] structures".<ref>V. Patel, Crying behavior and psychiatric disorder in adults: a review, Compr. Psych. 34 (1993) 206– 211. Quoted by Michelle C.P. Hendriks, A.J.J.M. Vingerhoets in Crying: is it beneficial for one’s well-being?</ref> |
of the [[ocular]] structures".<ref>V. Patel, Crying behavior and psychiatric disorder in adults: a review, Compr. Psych. 34 (1993) 206– 211. Quoted by Michelle C.P. Hendriks, A.J.J.M. Vingerhoets in Crying: is it beneficial for one’s well-being?</ref> |
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Revision as of 01:19, 20 May 2009
The term crying (pronounced [ˈkraɪɪŋ] from Middle English crien or Old French 'smakc tht all on the flow, smack tht give me some more, i loves hoe's and sluts, ooh ahh ahh mpph ow ow ow srry thses r sex soind! lolz'crier [1]) commonly refers to the act of shedding tears as a response to an emotional state in humans. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secretomotor phenomenon characterized by the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus, without any irritation of the ocular structures".[2]
A neuronal connection between the tear duct and the areas of the human brain involved with emotion was established. No other animals are thought to produce tears in response to emotional states,[3] although this is disputed by some scientists.[4]
According to a study of over 300 adults, on average, men cry once every month, and women cry at least five times per month,[5] especially before and during the menstrual cycle, when crying can increase up to 5 times the normal rate, often without obvious reasons (such as depression or sadness).[6] In many cultures, it is more socially acceptable for women and children to cry than with men.[7] An increase in the male testosterone level during puberty is also responsible for the fact that, although both sexes cry roughly the same amount during childhood, men cry less often than women and are less likely to have flowing tears when they do.
Tears produced during emotional crying have a chemical composition which differs from other types of tear: they contain significantly greater quantities of hormones prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, Leu-enkephalin[8] and the elements potassium and manganese.[9]
Function
The question of the function or origin of emotional tears remains open. Theories range from the simple, such as response to inflicted pain, to the more complex, including nonverbal communication in order to elicit "helping" behaviour from others.[10]
In Hippocratic and medieval medicine, tears were associated with the bodily humours, and crying was seen as purgation of excess humours from the brain.[11] William James thought of emotions as reflexes prior to rational thought, believing that the physiological response, as if to stress or irritation, is a precondition to cognitively becoming aware of emotions such as fear or anger.
William H. Frey II, a biochemist at the University of Minnesota, proposed that people feel "better" after crying, due to the elimination of hormones associated with stress, specifically adrenocorticotropic hormone.[12] This, paired with increased mucosal secretion during crying, could lead to a theory that crying is a mechanism developed in humans to dispose of this stress hormone when levels grow too high.
Recent psychological theories of crying emphasize its relationship to the experience of perceived helplessness.[13] From this perspective, an underlying experience of helplessness can usually explain why people cry; for example, a person may cry after receiving surprisingly happy news, ostensibly because the person feels powerless or unable to influence what is happening.
Types of crying in infants
Although crying is an infants only way of communication, it is not limited to one monotone sound. There are three different types of cries apparent in infants. The first of these three is a Basic Cry which is a systematic cry with a pattern of crying and silence. The basic cry starts with a cry coupled with a briefer silence, this is followed by a short high-pitched inspiratory whistle, then there is a brief silence followed by another cry. Hunger is a main stimulant of the basic cry. An Anger Cry is much like the basic cry, however in this cry more excess air is forced through the vocal chords, making it a louder more abrupt cry. The third cry is the Pain Cry which unlike the other two has no preliminary moaning. The pain cry is one loud cry followed by a period of breath holding. It is important to note that most adults can determine whether an infant's cries signify anger or pain (Zeskind,Klein,& Marshall, 1992). Most parents also have a better ability to distinguish their own infant's cries than those of a different child.[14]
There has been some evidence that crying between cultures also has some differences. In western countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, babies cry more than that of infants in other eastern European countries. This is due to an intense amount of crying in the first three months after birth, with periods of crying peaking in the fifth week of age. It is unknown why this difference occurs culturally. [15]
Disorders related to crying
- Bell's palsy, where faulty regeneration of the facial nerve can cause sufferers to shed tears while eating.[16]
- Cri du chat
- Familial dysautonomia, where there can be a lack of overflow tears (alacrima) during emotional crying.[17]
- Pathological laughing and crying
References
- ^ Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
- ^ V. Patel, Crying behavior and psychiatric disorder in adults: a review, Compr. Psych. 34 (1993) 206– 211. Quoted by Michelle C.P. Hendriks, A.J.J.M. Vingerhoets in Crying: is it beneficial for one’s well-being?
- ^ Why do we Cry,Walter, Chip,Source:Scientific American Mind; Dec2006, Vol. 17 Issue 6, p44, 8p,ISSN 1555-2284
- ^ Frey, WH. Crying: the Mystery of Tears. Chapter 14: Do Animals Shed Emotional Tears?pp. 135-139
- ^ Why do we Cry,Walter, Chip,Source:Scientific American Mind; Dec2006, Vol. 17 Issue 6, p44, 8p,ISSN 1555-2284
- ^ Fischer, Agneta. Gender and Emotion: Social Psychological Perspectives.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Why do we Cry,Walter, Chip,Source:Scientific American Mind; Dec2006, Vol. 17 Issue 6, p44, 8p,ISSN 1555-2284
- ^ Skorucak A. "The Science of Tears." ScienceIQ.com.
- ^ Why do we Cry,Walter, Chip,Source:Scientific American Mind; Dec2006, Vol. 17 Issue 6, p44, 8p,ISSN 1555-2284
- ^ On the Origin of Crying and Tears, Human Ethology Newsletter, Vol. 5 Issue 10, June 1989, p. 5-6
- ^ Lutz (2001), 69ff.
- ^ "Crying; The Mystery of Tears" personal page of Frey WH with quote from his book
- ^ Miceli, M., & Castelfranchi, C. (2003). Crying: discussing its basic reasons and uses. New Ideas in Psychology, 21(3), 247-273.
- ^ Santrock,John.(2008).Crying. In Fourth Edition A Topical Approach To Life-Span Development(pp.351-352)New York,NY. McGraw-Hill
- ^ Barr,Ronald.Keefe,Maureen. Roberts,Ian St.James.(2001). New Evidence On Unexplained Infant Crying: It's Orgins, Nature, and Management. Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute.
- ^ [Crocodile tears syndrome] [Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 1990 May-Jun] - PubMed Result
- ^ Felicia B Axelrod and Gabrielle Gold-von Simson (October 3, 2007). "Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies: types II, III, and IV". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 2 (39). doi:10.1186/1750-1172-2-39. PMC 2098750. PMID 17915006. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
Further reading
- William H. Frey, Muriel Langseth (1985), Crying: The Mystery of Tears . Minneapolis. Winston Press.
- Lutz, Tom (1999) Crying: The Natural and Cultural History of Tears. New York. W.W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-04756-3.
- Walter, Chip Why do we cry?. Scientific American Mind Dec 2006, Vol. 17 Issue 6; p. 44.
External links
- "Boys don't cry?" - Damian Corless examines the taboo that still surrounds public crying, Irish Independent, August 8 2008
- Why we cry by John-Paul Flintoff, The Age, 30 August 2003.
- It's No Party, But I'll Cry if I Want To by Gina Stepp, Vision Media, 14 January 2009.