# Biology behind crying **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616 "2002-09-16T00:12:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SurrealCheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SurrealCheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrealCheese)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/1 "2002-09-16T00:12:21Z")
Can someone explain to me how the human instinct to cry works? What kind of activity is happening in the brain to cause this reaction? And why? What kind of biological purpose is this supposed to serve? ---
**Author:** ![MarkyDeSade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@MarkyDeSade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkyDeSade)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/2 "2002-09-16T02:53:19Z")
This is a WAG, but I think crying occurs when the emotional circuits in your brain get overloaded due to stress or confusion. As for a biological purpose, I can imagine it being a warning signal to parents that a child’s needs should be addressed before some harm is done (starvation, dehydration, exposure, etc…) I don’t know for sure, but a psychiatrist might be along soon enough to give a more accurate answer… ---
**Author:** ![Rhapsody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Rhapsody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhapsody)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/3 "2002-09-16T03:04:59Z")
crying is a means to influence others. People rarely cry when alone and when they do it is a short event. Cying is for the benefit of those around the cryer. ---
**Author:** ![SurrealCheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SurrealCheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrealCheese)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/4 "2002-09-16T05:06:42Z")
How does it go from being a warning signal to parents to a physical reaction to an emotional state, though? Weird. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/5 "2002-09-16T05:12:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rhapsody \* > \*\*crying is a means to influence others. People rarely cry when alone and when they do it is a short event. Cying is for the benefit of those around the cryer. \*\* Where’d you get that idea, **Rhapsody**? I believe some of the most profound crying is done in private. I cry watching a sad movie all by myself. Maybe it’s just me, though. ☹ Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/6 "2002-09-16T07:52:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*I believe some of the most profound crying is done in private. I cry watching a sad movie all by myself. > Maybe it’s just me, though. ☹ \*\* Me too. I find it hideously embarassing crying in public. (FWIW I’m male). ---
**Author:** ![SparrowHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/7 "2002-09-20T00:34:18Z")
Datapoint: I also am more likely to cry when alone than with an audience. But **Rhapsody** may have a point, in that crying, if not meant to _influence_ another, is meant to _communicate_ with another. It signals honesty of emotion. Emotions are important to us, and it’s important to communicate about them, even if just to ourselves. At least, our biology apparently thinks so. Chemically, crying is believed to remove chemicals from the body that build up during stress. May also release endorphins. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/2000-01/12/029l-011200-idx.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/2000-01/12/029l-011200-idx.html) I’ve also been told (but cannot cough up a cite for it), that crying is a defense mechanism, a surrender reflex, “showing throat”, communicating “I am not a threat” to an adversary. I’m willing to believe that for the purely personal and empirical reason that I will find myself crying when I’m fencing if I believe I am outmatched. I don’t feel particularly sad about it; it’s an involuntary reflex. ---
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-behind-crying/128616/8 "2002-09-20T09:48:05Z")
**Rhapsody** - Never lost a close family member, have you? Leads to a lot of crying in private. For a long time. For no real discernible benefit to the cryer re: other people’s reactions. Really.