ABSTRACT
Why and when crying occurs in adults is still a mystery in many respects. The close association of crying with sadness is well known. However, crying is also common in situations where sadness is not the predominant emotion. For example, people cry at positive events like weddings, sports games and situations in which they are not threatened themselves in any way but feel happy or empathize with others who are in distress. Moreover, persons can employ crying in order to manipulate others. In addition, several personal and situational characteristics can influence the probability of shedding tears. For example, fatigue, the presence of others, and so-called display rules all may inhibit or facilitate crying.
