CRY—AND FEEL BETTER!

Evening Star, Issue 19614, 21 July 1927, Page 2

CRY—AND FEEL BETTER!

CAUSE AND EFFECT. Crying is regarded as a result of unhappiness, and, in the majority of instances, the relations of cause and effect is evident. This does not carry us far in our understanding of the phenomena (writes Dr C. Stanford Dead, in the London ‘Daily Express’). Tears may appear when both the subject and others see their raison d’etre; tin))’ iliay, on the other hand, be shed when, though the subject knows their origin, bystanders will not grasp the cause; and, also, they may arise without even the subject knowing why. A noted American psychologist put forward the theory many years ago that we do not cry because wo arc sad, but that wo are sad because wo cry. The subtleties of this idea, however, are too intricate for our consideration, lloughly, crying is induced by an emotional state, which comes about when some instinctive disposition finds a barrier in its path. Tension within is thus brought about, and tears coirto as a relief. Of course, other outlets exist. We can understand any mental activity best by viewing its early manifestations. The child easily cries, and we may almost say that it is a privilege of that age. As adulthood is reached and we put away childish things this form of reaction to distress, except in special circumstances, becomes much less in evidence. In the face of abnormal stress wo may revert to the emotional expressions of earlier life, and it was common to note in the Great War how easily the shell-shocked soldier cried. It might almost tie said that the first cries the newborn infant makes is a protest against coming info the world, since it is opposed fo the instinctive longing for peace. Does not the child later tend to cry when flfwarted in his independent action; when his aequistivc longing are incapable of impulsive outlet; when pain brings fear of his security; when the withdrawal of mother seems to spejl want of safety? All these situations are related to tension through nongratification of instinctive urges. In maturer years the same tendency is shown, but on a somewhat higher plane. We may cry with humiliation because our self-regard is hit; with sorrow because our ambition cannot be fulfilled; with rage when our aggressive impulses are cheeked; with grief when one who is dear leaves us, spurns us, or dies. Crying is, therefore, in one way essentially egotistical. We are sorry far ourselves. AVc man find tears from sympathy or from identifying ourselves with others who suffer. Temporarily, wo feel as they feel. Emotions arc contagious. Then we may find ourselves crying, and we hardly know whence the impulse comes. Something unconsciously has stirred a depressing memory within us wo have long repressed and so forgotten. Thus, on the anniversaries of the death of loved ones, or some such situation, depression and Lears may unwittingly arise without conscious thought of the real cause. There are some people who, because of a particular type of mentality, are apt to live in the past. ,Crying is more destructive than constructive, and has no useful end except that of relieving tension. “ Have a good cry and you’ll feel better,” is a common remark. Originally the crying babe gains its dcthis moans, and the child—even some adults—docs so willingly or unwillingly for the same purpose. The neurotic often uses tears to obtain sympathy; hut then we arc all neurotic in some degree, and all have some of the child within us.