Self
Why Humans Cry and Its Essential Role
How empathy, biology, and evolution have brought us to tears.
Can you remember the last time you cried? I came close about six months ago. I was watching a real-life video of two men wandering through a lush forest. They suddenly heard a baby crying, and ran to the noise, discovering a newborn abandoned by his mother.
I caught a lump in my throat at the inhumanity of the situation and a child starting life under such circumstances. And if I’m being honest, I also got wrecked by Marley & Me ten years ago, and would again with good movie involving a dog dying.
The role of crying is multidimensional and deeply personal. Understanding why we do it can help you process emotions and better connect with people.
The evolutionary biology of tears
Your eyes often squint when you cry because muscles are putting pressure on lacrimal glands to release tears. These glands are in the upper lateral quadrant of your orbital (lubricating tears are produced in the lower eyelid). You get a lump in your throat when you are about to cry because your body is opening your throat so you can breathe more clearly during the stress response.
