Please pass the tissues

Every once in a while we just need a good cry. Right? No, says a researcher at the University of South Florida. Or at least, tears are not enough by themselves. Jonathan Rottenberg says his new study shows there’s not as much of a benefit to crying as people would believe. Instead, he suggests it’s sympathy that can make people feel better. Bolstering social connections and laying the groundwork for empathetic relationships may serve as the best way to prepare for that burst of bawling. Instead of just weeping, we need someone to offer a hug and an ear.

Details of the study are in the Journal of Research in Personality.

Stephen Goforth