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In a new study, researchers found that tears can surprisingly help reduce anger in men. Until now, it was thought that the purpose of tears was only to protect the eyes, but the study showed they might do more. The findings could mean tears play an important role in the way people interact with each other.

Crying and communication in humans

Scientists were curious about why humans cry. Some thought crying was just something that happens naturally, but others believe tears could be a way to send messages without talking, like how animals use scents to talk to each other. 

It signals distress, empathy, or joy, facilitating emotional connection and understanding among individuals. Tears often express vulnerability, prompting social responses like comfort or support. From the perspective of evolution, crying likely evolved as a survival mechanism to save relationships in distress. 

Tears and aggression

In a recent study, men who sniffed tears felt less angry. The researchers used tears from women and compared them to a saltwater solution. When men sniffed the tears, their anger was reduced by almost half compared to when they sniffed saltwater.

They also found that some parts of the nose react to tears, even though tears don't have a smell. When researchers observed the brain, they noticed changes upon exposure. The areas related to anger were less active, and parts linked to smell and anger were more connected.

Study author Noam Sobel explained that due to financial constraints and feasibility, the study focused only on the effects of tears on men. However, they plan to find out if tears affect women similarly. They also aim to figure out what exactly in tears causes this effect, which could be helpful in the field of medicine.

This study hints at tears having a bigger role in how we behave around each other. As scientists continue to study tears, it might help us understand more about how we communicate without using words and how our actions can change because of it.