New study sheds interesting light on shedding tears.

By Teresa Neumann

Interesting, isn’t it, that human beings are the only species that shed emotional tears? The Bible is full of accounts of the tears of God’s people: the prophets, those grieving, supplicants, the woman who bathed Jesus’ feet in her tears, even Jesus Himself.

Now, a recent study on the science of tears and crying has produced some interesting observations. According to Dr. Vingerhoets, professor of clinical psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, a woman cries about two-four times a month, while a man cries about once every two months on average. Not only do women burst out into tears more often than men, but they also cry more intensely and for longer.

The report from Tilburg University states that women will often cry because of feelings of powerlessness, and that during conflict it’s harder for her not to burst into tears. Could it be that Mary was not only penitent when she washed Jesus’ feet, but feeling vulnerable in the presence of the Pharisees who scorned her presence?

Men, however, reportedly do not express powerless feelings with tears, but rather vent their frustration through actions. This doesn’t mean men can’t, or don’t, cry. When they do, it is usually for sentimental reasons, such as the birth of a child or a favorite sport victory or loss. In other words, mens’ tears, claims Vingerhoets, are often connected with feelings of pride, courage, victory, defeats, and companionship.

Scientifically speaking, women have more of the hormone prolactine in their body than men. Prolactine is the hormone that spurs milk production, which leads to crying. The amount of prolactine produced by men is far less than by women. Men have more testosterone, which has a restraining influence on crying, and thus men cry more often as they grow older, because of a lower testosterone content.

Crying also differs from culture to culture. In Japan, for example, top managers who burst out into tears public, can count on understanding and appreciation.

Crying, notes Vingerhoets, is exhausting. The inhalation time is extremely short, so the heartbeat can increase up till 200 pulses a minute. Blood pressure rises 135 percent, which can lead to a decrease of the oxygen in the blood. And, the act of crying itself isn’t a relief; he says. It’s actually the response of other people listening or responding to crying that produces a relief mechanism.

Other reports, such as one in the Wall Street Journal by Katherine Rosman, quotes other experts on the subject. For example, Tom Lutz, a University of California, Riverside professor said the reluctance of males to cry is historically new. “Male tears [such as Jesus weeping] are the norm,” he said, “and males not crying is recent historical aberration.”

Interestingly, Minnesota biochemist and neuroscientist William H. Frey II was quoted as saying there are two types of tears. “Irritant tears help wash eyes of dust, dirt and impurities. Emotional tears are created and released in response to emotional stimulus and physical pain. All tears contain proteins, salt and hormones, among other substances, but emotional tears have higher levels of protein.”

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Staff/Dr. Ad Vingerhoets,- Tilburg University http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/social-and-behavioral-sciences/emotions/sadness/

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