The psychophysiology of crying.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective non-randomized observational laboratory study comparing spontaneous criers to non-criers
PubMed 7972600 · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1994.tb01049.x
What was done
Researchers exposed 150 women to a short film designed to elicit sadness while recording subjective emotional ratings, expressive behavior, and physiological measures. Physiological responses (somatic and autonomic nervous system activity) and self-reported feelings were compared between participants who spontaneously cried (n = 33) and those who did not (n = 117).
What was found
Thirty-three women cried spontaneously during the film while 117 did not. Crying individuals reported experiencing significantly more sadness and pain and displayed greater expressive behavior compared to non-criers. Crying was also linked to increases in somatic and autonomic nervous system activation, with autonomic increases persisting beyond what could be accounted for solely by somatic movement. Exact numerical values, effect sizes, and p-values were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
These findings challenge the idea that crying immediately acts as a homeostatic, physiological calming mechanism, instead showing that crying accompanies an aversive, physiologically aroused state during acute sadness.
Limits
The abstract reports no specific numerical data, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. The sample was restricted entirely to female participants, limiting generalizability to men. Allocation was self-selected based on spontaneous crying rather than controlled, and long-term recovery following the cessation of crying was not detailed in the abstract.
Cited by
- context Crying is an adaptive response to emotional dysregulation that helps restore psychological and parasympathetic homeostasis.