Cause and Effect of Tears

No matter how effectively we try to classify the different types of tears, it is difficult to reach a definitive conclusion about which specific type of tear serves as the primary catalyst for a given situation. The more we try to identify a singular category of tears, the more evident it becomes that certain situations provoke multiple emotional responses. Consequently, the quest to identify a solitary emotional reaction responsible for tears occurring reveals that it is the interaction of multiple emotions that gives rise to this expressive outcome.

When an individual goes through a situation that triggers a complex range of emotions, often these emotions are in conflict with each other, and crying arises as a physical manifestation of these feelings and emotions. Tears are not the exclusive result of a singular emotion; rather, they arise from the complicated interweaving of several emotional threads. For example, if a person only feels angry toward another person, tears may not be the immediate response. However, when this anger coexists with feelings of guilt, perhaps arising from the recognition that the other person has been consistently kind, except for a failure to acknowledge a particular issue, emotional conflict develops. The inability to express oneself without feeling bad for doing so can create a pressing need for a physical outlet, leading to the act of crying as a means of expression.

The same applies to college students who face situations that, such as failing a class, can dominate and completely change their existence and the path of their future. In the journal “Emotional Healing Through Induced Therapeutic Crying: A Mixed Method Approach” Reynold P. Varela, carried out three studies in which theories were explained about the effects that certain individuals have after crying. Varela shows that one of the results of crying is that it “gives one some degree of emotional freedom to release the pain, the burden, the anger, and the emptiness.” They underscore the idea that crying serves as a release of a set of intense emotions rather than a response to a single feeling. The effect of tears, therefore, is not simply a consequence of the situation but a means to achieve resolution and emotional expression. This supports the idea that an individual does not cry as a result of a single emotion but rather a set of intense emotions that results in the feeling of liberation. This release provides a necessary pause for emotional discharge, allowing one to gather the forces necessary for a resilient ascent.

The effect of conflicting emotions is to cry but the effect of tears is to feel that the situation has been resolved in some way. The relief that comes from crying comes from the realization that, through this emotional release, you have found a way to express yourself. Not simply the emotions that contributed during the crisis are conveyed, but rather the frustration of dealing with these conflicting feelings without a clear resolution. According to the book “Crying: The Natural & Cultural History of Tears” by Tom Lutz, “Crying often occurs at precisely those times when we are least able to fully verbalize complex, “overwhelming” emotions, least able to fully articulate our manifold, mingled feeling.” If an individual’s capacity to communicate and convey their emotions has been thwarted by the overwhelming array of feelings, the immediate response is often tears. 

The natural drive for control is a fundamental aspect of human nature. When we face challenging situations, we can lose this sense of control due to the helplessness of not being able to express the desired feelings vocally, so gaining a sense of control can be empowering and can even help people cope with certain emotions effectively. Crying is the factor that provides a feeling of control since the individual is actively accepting that they have no control over the situation, which counterintuitive provides a feeling of power, at least in the physiological realm. Although crying may not rectify the problems that cause the emotional crisis or stop the different emotions experienced, it serves as a conduit that connects the individual with this sense of control despite the complexities of the situation.

Another factor to take into account is that in addition to the effect of tears, they can provide mood stabilization. The journal, “Meaning and Importance of Weeping” by C.V Bellieni, describes an analysis in which the mood of 28 people who objectively cried and 32 who did not cry was rated, compared before and immediately after watching an emotional film. The researchers concluded that, after the initial deterioration in mood after crying that was observed in laboratory studies, mood quickly became even less negative than before the emotional event. Reiterating that crying could provide a feeling of relief and security that resulted in increasing the mood of the individuals.

In conclusion, attempts to classify tears into singular types are challenging, as the act of crying arises as a physical outcome when individuals experience situations that provoke a complex range of conflicting emotions. This action is evident in various settings, from personal relationships to the academic challenges faced by college students. Conflicting emotions or feelings lead people to cry, but the effect of tears is the idea or feeling that the situation has been resolved in some way. The relief that comes from crying comes from the recognition that through this emotional release, one has found a way to communicate and cope with overwhelming and complex feelings that may have been difficult to articulate verbally. Furthermore, crying offers a semblance of control in difficult situations since crying is a conscious acceptance of the lack of control over a situation, paradoxically empowering individuals since they have done something about the situation, in this case crying. This suggests that crying provides a feeling of relief and security and ultimately contributes to improving overall mood.

References

Becht, M. C., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., (1997). Crying and Mood: A Cross Cultural Study Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Tilburg UniversityTilburg, The
Netherlands

Bellieni, C. V. (2017). Meaning and importance of weeping. New Ideas in Psychology, 47, 72-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2017.06.003

Lutz, T. (2001). Crying: The Natural & Cultural History of Tears. https://books.google.com/books?hl=es&lr=&id=Nb1f9MpgO8IC&oi=fnd&pg=PA13&dq=crying+releases+emotions+&ots=P3NEs2YTwA&sig=xejiuCM9bk7Ky3wBlgU59XpPG2U