Why do we cry?

probably stems from the fact that babies and infants cry in order to get a response from parents to tend to their needs.

as we grow older maybe its to convey to others our emotional state so that we can receive aid?

i am pretty sure that the content of emotional tears differ from lubricational tears. When we get sad or another form of emotion that causes emotional tears this is probably a way of our body flushing these excess chemicals that are built up when we have these 'negative' emotions. could explain why u feel better after a good cry :_)
 
Mana said:
probably stems from the fact that babies and infants cry in order to get a response from parents to tend to their needs.

as we grow older maybe its to convey to others our emotional state so that we can receive aid?

i am pretty sure that the content of emotional tears differ from lubricational tears. When we get sad or another form of emotion that causes emotional tears this is probably a way of our body flushing these excess chemicals that are built up when we have these 'negative' emotions. could explain why u feel better after a good cry :_)
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good answer, makes sense aswell
 
Tears brought about by emotions have a different chemical make up than those for lubrication; emotional tears contain more of the protein-based hormones prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and leucine enkephalin (a natural painkiller) than basal or reflex tears. The limbic system is involved in production of basic emotional drives, such as anger, fear, etc. The limbic system, specifically the hypothalamus, also has a degree of control over the autonomic system. The parasympathetic branch of the autonomic system controls the lacrimal glands via the neurotransmitter acetylcholine through both the nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. When these receptors are activated, the lacrimal gland is stimulated to produce tears.
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autonomic system is basically the part of the nervous system that works unconciously. So if i am understanding it right, limbic part of our brain creates the emotion of being angry, sad etc and because it controls part of the autonomic system which controls (through the parasympathetic branch) the tear glands, we cry. I am guessing as we also haveconscious control over our eyes through other nervous system pathways we can to an extent try to not cry even tho we may really want to.
 
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Metatron said:
I know now why you cry.
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ok bit embarassing but end of armageddon, where willis sacrifices himself and pushes affleck back into the ship and then says goodbye to his daughter gets me everytime. Green Mile did it for me.

Ow and Ricky Gervais speech in Extras when he was on celeb big brother...

God what the hell am i typing, im off to bed :S
 
I believe being able to cry is a very good thing. We feel so much better and 'lighter' afterwards.

We're all human after all (well, that's disputable with some of the scum on earth) and it is a natural thing to do. ;)
 
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