9 bizarre facts about crying

This week it was reported in the newspaper that aggression in men can decrease by up to 50 percent when they smell women's tears. Interesting and also a bit unfortunate. Because women probably cry after the aggression has occurred, and we would prefer that aggression doesn't happen at all. Crying is seen as a kind of ‘chemical blanket’ that protects the crier. That explains why babies are so incredibly good at it; they are vulnerable and helpless and need our help. As far as I'm concerned, they get that help without crying, but try explaining that to a newborn. It got me thinking about the phenomenon of crying, because there is a lot to say about it.

1. Women cry more than men
You probably suspected that already. We cry about 20 to 50 times a year (I think I really cry about 300 times a year, but that's beside the point) and men moisten their eyes about 5 to 20 times a year. This is, by the way, the reason why men cry less.

2. Only humans cry
As far as we know, we are the only beings that cry where tear production is linked to emotions.

3. When you cry from joy, the first tear comes from your right eye
And when you cry from sadness, the first tear comes from your left eye.

4. Tears are comforting
Especially because crying in company evokes empathy in others. A hug, a listening ear, a glass of water. But emotional tears contain protein, prolactin, corticotropin, and leucine, which have a pain-relieving effect. So I would especially not hold back those tears. It is also said that crying washes away a layer of your pain.

5. An average crying episode lasts six minutes

6. Women's tears reduce aggression
This was researched by the Weizmann Institute of Science, and it is due to the scent of women's tears that reduces activity in certain brain areas, such as aggression.

7. You produce fewer tears as you get older

8. There are three types of tears
Basal tears that keep your eyes clean, reflex tears that respond to, for example, smoky environments, and emotional tears that are stimulated when you are sad or happy.

9. Tears consist of three layers
An inner layer that keeps the tear at the eye, a watery layer, and an oily outer layer.

Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology | Image: Wolf of Wall Street