Why Humans Like to Cry: Tragedy,Evolution,and the Brain
Human beings are the only species to have evolved the trait of emotional crying. We weep at tragedies in our lives and in those of others - remarkably even when they are fictional characters in film,opera,music,novels,and theatre. Why have we developed art forms - most powerfully,music - which move us to sadness and tears? This question forms the backdrop to Michael Trimble's discussion of emotional crying,its physiology,and its evolutionary implications. His exploration examines the connecti