Functions of Emotional Crying

Over the last three decades, research on emotional crying has increased significantly. Nevertheless, our understanding of the functions and consequences of this fascinating behaviour remains limited. This paper provides a brief overview of the latest theoretical contributions and empirical findings on the intra- and inter-individual effects of crying. Next, it attempts to disentangle the evolved functions of crying from its effects, which are not necessarily part of these functions. The central premise is that crying represents an evolved mechanism designed to transmit information in a limited set of ancestrally recurrent situations. The paper offers both theoretical analysis and empirical support for the idea that emotional crying functions as an emotional expression or signal that: (a) primarily operates through the visual channel, (b) evolved during recent human evolution to transmit information related to attachment processes, help-seeking, and the expression of friendly intentions, all of which can be structured around the main dimensions of social perception: warmth and competence, (c) often elicits positive reactions from observers, and (d) has positive consequences for the individual that are best understood within the context of its signalling function. In addition to the effects of crying on well-being of the crying individual that are mediated through positive responses from others, this contribution also discusses how crying might directly influence an individual’s well-being. Understanding these direct effects requires a consideration of the evolved signalling functions of tears. Based on these proposed functions, the paper attempts a theoretical integration of the inter-individual functions and intra-individual effects of crying.