Crying, weeping or tearfulness in British and Israeli adults.

Abstract

Participants (aged 20-42 years; N = 448) from Britain and Israel answered questions on their crying behaviour. They were more likely to cry alone than when with others and least likely to cry with people they did not know well. Women cried more often and for longer and with more intensity than men. Britons cried more than Israelis. Explanations in terms of differential inhibition were not supported. The sex difference was especially marked for situations involving criticism from others, anger, or problems with work, where men were particularly unlikely to cry, and least for those situations Darwin described as involving tender feelings. The pattern was related to differences documented elsewhere in which men tend to more active and confrontational styles of behaviour. British-Israeli differences were consistent with the effects of military service. Tearfulness for tender feelings increased with age in all groups. A principal component analysis distinguished crying that is intense, long lasting and difficult to stop from crying that is more diverse in appearance but more controllable. The distinction seems related to whether crying pre-empts or concurs with other ongoing activities.