# Why We Cry When We're Happy

Overwhelming positive emotions trigger a physiological crossover where the brain’s emotion-processing centers cannot reliably distinguish between extreme joy and severe stress. To prevent the body from being overwhelmed by high-arousal states, the autonomic nervous system deploys tears as a rapid pressure release valve, helping to restore a calm, physiological baseline.

For centuries, the human capacity to shed tears of joy—whether at weddings, graduations, or upon hearing life-changing news—has puzzled philosophers, biologists, and psychologists alike. Charles Darwin famously dismissed emotional tears as an essentially purposeless byproduct of facial muscle contractions, a rare misstep in his evolutionary analyses [cite: 1, 2, 3]. Today, affective neuroscience and psychology reveal a remarkably different reality. Emotional crying, a behavior uniquely observed in humans, is a highly sophisticated regulatory mechanism and a potent social signal [cite: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Far from being a biological accident or a sign of weakness, shedding tears during moments of profound happiness serves critical intra-personal and inter-personal functions, bridging the gap between internal physiological states and the external social environment.

## The Neurological Machinery of Overwhelming Joy

To understand why a joyous event can lead to a physical reaction classically associated with grief, the process must be traced deep within the brain's limbic system, a complex network of structures responsible for processing emotion, memory, and autonomic arousal.

### The Amygdala and the Hypothalamus

The journey of a happy tear begins when an individual experiences a sudden, overwhelmingly positive event. The amygdala, a paired, almond-shaped structure deep in the brain, immediately logs the intense emotional significance of the moment. However, the amygdala acts primarily as the brain's emotional radar for intensity rather than valence. It is less concerned with the specific "flavor" of the emotion—whether it is terror, rage, or ecstasy—than it is with the sheer magnitude of the arousal [cite: 7, 8]. 

Once the amygdala registers this massive spike in emotional arousal, it sends an urgent, high-priority neural signal to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus functions as the primary command center for the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, respiration, digestion, and pupil dilation [cite: 7, 8, 9, 10]. Herein lies the core biological glitch responsible for happy tears: the hypothalamus cannot easily differentiate between a high-arousal state caused by extreme distress and a high-arousal state caused by extreme joy. It simply registers that the brain is in a state of severe excitation and requires immediate physiological management [cite: 8, 10].

[image delta #1, 0 bytes]





### The Autonomic Tug-of-War

The autonomic nervous system is divided into two primary, opposing branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. 

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is responsible for the body's "fight-or-flight" response. When the hypothalamus receives the distress signal from the amygdala during a moment of intense joy, it activates the SNS. This activation mobilizes the body, resulting in the physical symptoms commonly associated with both excitement and panic: a quickening heart rate, shallow breathing, perspiration, and a cessation of digestive processes [cite: 7, 10, 11].

Conversely, the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) acts as the "rest-and-digest" system. It is designed to calm the body down, slow the heart rate, and restore physiological equilibrium after a threat or high-arousal event has passed. 

During an overwhelming moment of joy, the sympathetic nervous system spikes rapidly. To prevent the cardiovascular and nervous systems from remaining in a dangerously high, unsustainable state of arousal, the parasympathetic nervous system forcefully kicks in to counteract the spike. It is this sudden, intense parasympathetic rebound that leads to crying. The parasympathetic nervous system, communicating largely through the vagus nerve, utilizes a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. When acetylcholine binds to specialized receptors in the lacrimal glands—the almond-shaped tear ducts located above the upper, outer corner of each eye—it stimulates the rapid production of tear fluid [cite: 9, 10, 12]. In essence, happy tears are physical evidence that the brain is actively applying the physiological brakes to prevent emotional and physical overload.

### The Central Autonomic Network and Crying Coordination

Beyond the basic amygdala-hypothalamus loop, a sophisticated matrix of other brain structures is required to coordinate the complex physical act of emotional crying. Clinical neuroscientists identify the periaqueductal gray (PAG) as a critical center for controlling the specific facial muscles, vocalizations, and sobbing rhythms associated with crying [cite: 12]. 

Simultaneously, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a vital role in conscious emotional awareness, helping the individual notice how they feel and monitor their own reactions. These structures are integrated into the broader central autonomic network (CAN), which dynamically adjusts heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure while the individual cries [cite: 12]. Together, these regions ensure that the physical act of shedding tears corresponds directly to the internal emotional state, executing the same physical algorithm regardless of whether the intense arousal was driven by triumph or tragedy.

## Dimorphous Expressions: The Psychology of Smiling Through Tears

While the neurological tug-of-war explains the mechanics of tear production, psychology offers a comprehensive theoretical framework for *why* the human brain resorts to this crossover mechanism. A leading theory in contemporary affective science is the concept of "dimorphous expressions," extensively researched and championed by psychologist Oriana Aragón and her colleagues at Yale University [cite: 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]. 

### The Regulatory Function of Contradictory Displays

A monomorphous expression occurs when an individual's internal emotion matches their expected external physical display—for instance, smiling when feeling happy, or frowning and weeping when feeling sad. A dimorphous expression, however, occurs when a single, intensely felt emotional state generates an external display that is normatively associated with the exact *opposite* emotion [cite: 15, 17, 18, 19]. Tears of joy represent one of the most common and universally recognized dimorphous expressions, but they belong to a broader behavioral family.

Other widely documented examples of dimorphous expressions include:
*   **Cute Aggression:** The overwhelming, seemingly involuntary urge to playfully squeeze, pinch, or gently bite a baby, a puppy, or a highly infantile animal, despite feeling overwhelming adoration and a desire to care for it [cite: 13, 14, 17, 18, 20].
*   **Nervous Laughter:** Smiling or giggling uncontrollably in a terrifying, solemn, or highly uncomfortable situation, acting as a buffer against profound fear or anxiety [cite: 13, 14].
*   **Joyful Screaming and Aggression:** Concertgoers screaming as if horrified when seeing their favorite musician take the stage, or athletes roaring in apparent anger, clenching their jaws, and pumping their fists after scoring a winning goal [cite: 14, 15, 18, 19].

Aragón’s extensive research indicates that dimorphous expressions are not behavioral errors; they serve a vital, highly effective emotional regulation function. In controlled studies utilizing images of highly infantile, "cute" babies with distinctively round faces and large eyes, researchers measured participants' emotional responses and physical urges. Subjects who displayed strong dimorphous expressions (reporting high levels of cute aggression, such as wanting to pinch the baby's cheeks) experienced a significantly faster and steeper decline in overwhelming positive emotion five minutes after the exposure compared to those who did not display such urges [cite: 13, 20]. 

By expressing a negative physical display (like tears or faux-aggression), the individual rapidly curtails the positive emotional cascade, bringing their psychological state back to a manageable baseline. Researchers theorize that individuals who cry at their child's graduation or a wedding are essentially utilizing a subconscious, highly evolved tool to restore their emotional equilibrium when happiness becomes destabilizing [cite: 9, 13, 14]. 

### Appetitive vs. Consummatory Orientations

Further research into dimorphous expressions suggests that these seemingly incongruent behaviors communicate specific motivational states to observers. Studies show that "happiness displayed through anger" (such as a victorious athlete roaring) signals an *appetitive* orientation. This indicates a state of high drive, a feeling of "wanting to go," or a readiness to conquer and continue engaging with the environment [cite: 15, 19, 21]. 

Conversely, "happiness displayed through sadness" (crying tears of joy) signals a *consummatory* orientation. This communicates a feeling of "wanting to pause," a state of satisfaction where the individual needs to savor the moment, stop seeking new stimuli, and process the overwhelming sensory and emotional input they have just received [cite: 15, 19, 21]. 

| Feature | Monomorphous Expression | Dimorphous Expression |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Definition** | External physical display logically matches the internal emotional valence. | External physical display contrasts entirely with the internal emotional valence. |
| **Common Examples** | Smiling when joyful; weeping when grieving; widening eyes in fear. | Crying when joyful; laughing when terrified; cute aggression; aggressive victory roars. |
| **Primary Trigger** | Low, moderate, or highly manageable levels of emotional arousal. | Extreme, unmanageable, and overwhelming emotional arousal. |
| **Psychological Function** | Direct, unambiguous communication of emotional state to others. | Rapid internal emotional regulation; restoring psychological homeostasis. |
| **Nervous System State** | Matched to the emotional valence. | Tug-of-war between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic branches. |

## The Four Triggers of Happy Tears

The broad category of "happy tears" can be further delineated. Psychological surveys and observational studies have categorized positive emotional crying into four distinct typologies, each linked to specific social and environmental triggers [cite: 22, 23]. 

| Type of Positive Tear | Definition and Context | Common Scenarios |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Achievement Tears** | Triggered by overcoming significant obstacles, recognizing extraordinary feats, or feeling immense pride in oneself or others. | Crossing a marathon finish line; watching a child graduate; securing a long-awaited career promotion. |
| **Beauty Tears** | Triggered by overwhelming aesthetic experiences, awe, or profound artistic appreciation that transcends standard emotional processing. | Listening to a moving symphony; witnessing a stunning natural phenomenon (e.g., an eclipse); viewing profound art. |
| **Affection Tears** | Triggered by unexpected warmth, deep interpersonal connection, and the intensification of close relationships. | A surprise reunion with a family member; exchanging wedding vows; feeling overwhelming gratitude for a friend's support. |
| **Amusement Tears** | Triggered by extreme hilarity, where laughter crosses the threshold into uncontrollable weeping. | Experiencing a highly comedic event; sharing intense, breathless laughter with close peers. |

In each of these scenarios, the underlying mechanism remains consistent: the emotion crosses a specific threshold of intensity, forcing the autonomic nervous system to step in and apply the physiological brakes [cite: 8, 22, 23].

## Are "Happy Tears" and "Sad Tears" Chemically Different?

If tears of joy are fundamentally a parasympathetic response designed to mitigate positive overwhelm, are they physically the exact same substance as tears of grief?

[image delta #2, 0 bytes]

 

For decades, ophthalmologists and biologists categorized all human tears into three distinct physiological types based on their origin and primary function [cite: 1, 5, 6, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27]:

1.  **Basal Tears:** Continuously secreted in microscopic amounts by the tear ducts to maintain a thin lacrimal film over the cornea. This layer keeps the eyes lubricated, prevents drying, and protects against bacterial infection. Basal tears contain water, lipids, mucin, and high concentrations of antibacterial proteins like lysozyme and lactoferrin [cite: 5, 6, 22, 26, 27, 28].
2.  **Reflex Tears:** Produced instantly and in much larger volumes to flush out sudden external irritants. When the eye is exposed to smoke, dust, or the syn-propanethial-S-oxide gas released by chopped onions, sensory receptors (specifically TRP channels) trigger a massive release of fluid. Reflex tears contain a higher concentration of specific antibodies and defensin peptides to prevent infections and promote healing [cite: 5, 6, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29].
3.  **Emotional (Psychic) Tears:** Triggered exclusively by the limbic system in response to intense psychological arousal, whether positive or negative. 

### The Density and Opioid Content of Emotional Tears
Early biochemical analyses established that emotional tears are fundamentally distinct from both basal and reflex tears. Because the lacrimal gland is directly linked to the bloodstream, the chemical composition of blood directly influences the makeup of tears [cite: 25, 26]. Emotional tears are notably more viscous and protein-dense than watery reflex tears. This higher protein content makes emotional tears stickier, causing them to cling to the skin and roll down the cheeks much more slowly [cite: 6, 25]. This physical property is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation to prolong the visibility of the tears on the face, maximizing their effectiveness as a social signal [cite: 6].

More critically, emotional tears contain a much higher concentration of protein-based hormones and neurotransmitters. These include prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, a stress hormone), and leu-enkephalin [cite: 1, 4, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31]. Leu-enkephalin is an endogenous opioid peptide that acts as a powerful natural painkiller, which the body releases in response to severe stress to modulate pain and regulate mood [cite: 1, 4, 9, 25, 28, 30, 31]. The excretion of these dense hormones through the tear ducts led to the early theory that crying literally flushes toxic stress chemicals out of the human body [cite: 5, 24, 26, 27].

### The Metabolomics of Joy vs. Sorrow
Until the early 2020s, science treated all emotional tears as chemically identical, assuming that the tear gland simply produced a uniform "stress fluid" regardless of the underlying emotion [cite: 25, 29]. However, cutting-edge metabolomics research suggests that happy tears and sad tears harbor subtle but highly distinct chemical signatures.

In a pioneering 2023 study published by Hao Liang and colleagues, researchers performed untargeted metabolomics analysis on samples of reflex tears, negative emotional tears, and positive emotional tears collected from human subjects [cite: 6]. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, the researchers discovered 133 significantly differentially expressed metabolites between positive and negative tears [cite: 6]. This indicated that the body recruits entirely different biological pathways depending on the emotional context of the crying episode.

*   **Positive Emotional Tears:** Tears of joy were found to be closely correlated with the upregulation of specific metabolites, including indole-3-acetic acid, nopaline, N6-acetyl-L-lysine, and certain free fatty acids (FFA 18:0) [cite: 6]. Pathway analysis linked the secretion of happy tears to biotin and caffeine metabolism, as well as arginine and proline metabolic pathways [cite: 6]. 
*   **Negative Emotional Tears:** Tears shed in sorrow, grief, or fear were heavily associated with the regulation of endocrine hormones (including gonadotropin-releasing hormone and the estrogen signaling pathway) and brain synapses (serotonergic and GABAergic) [cite: 6]. Crucially, sad tears were strongly linked to arachidonic acid metabolism, a pathway heavily involved in the body's inflammatory activities and stress responses [cite: 6]. Older biochemical hypotheses also suggest that sad tears may contain higher absolute levels of manganese and potassium compared to happy tears, further differentiating the two fluids [cite: 1, 4, 26, 30].

While this field of tear metabolomics is still in its infancy and requires broader, large-scale replication, the scientific consensus is shifting. The physical, mechanical process of producing a tear remains the same via the lacrimal gland, but the distinct physiological and neurochemical cocktails cascading through the bloodstream during moments of joy versus moments of grief subtly alter the ultimate chemical makeup of the teardrop [cite: 25, 29, 30, 31].



## Mixed Emotions: A Unique Neural State

When individuals cry at a major life milestone, they frequently report feeling a profound blend of emotions—perhaps immense pride mixed with a poignant sadness over the passage of time, or deep relief tinged with anxiety about the future [cite: 32]. This phenomenological reality raises a fundamental neuroscientific question: When we feel "bittersweet," is the brain rapidly oscillating back and forth between feeling happy and feeling sad (a "ping-pong" effect), or can the human brain genuinely experience two contradictory emotions at the exact same neurological moment?

### Beyond the "Ping-Pong" Theory

For decades, many psychological surveys and cognitive models treated human emotions on a strict, univalent linear spectrum, with extreme negative feelings on one end (e.g., 1) and extreme positive feelings on the other (e.g., 9) [cite: 32]. Under this traditional model, true, simultaneous mixed emotions were considered neurologically impossible. Researchers believed the brain simply switched its focus rapidly between positive and negative stimuli, creating an illusion of a mixed state [cite: 32, 33, 34]. 

However, a landmark 2024 study conducted by neuroscientists at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences provides compelling evidence that "bittersweetness" is a distinct, sustained, and unified neural state.

### Distinct Brain Patterns for Bittersweetness

Led by researchers Jonas Kaplan and Anthony Vaccaro, the USC team placed subjects in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine to observe real-time brain activity. The subjects were shown the animated short film *One Small Step*, carefully selected by the researchers for its proven ability to evoke simultaneously joyful and heartbreaking themes [cite: 34, 35]. After the viewing, participants indicated the exact moments they experienced purely positive, purely negative, or mixed emotions, allowing the researchers to correlate these reports with the fMRI imaging data [cite: 34, 35].

The scans revealed a paradigm-shifting result: when subjects reported feeling mixed emotions, their brains did not show rapid switching between the established neural signatures of pure joy and pure sadness. Instead, bittersweetness elicited a completely unique and highly stable pattern of neural activity centered in the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens (a vital region heavily involved in the brain's reward and pleasure circuits) [cite: 34, 35]. 

Vaccaro noted that this unique neural state holds remarkably steady over time, concluding, "You’re not ping-ponging between negative and positive. It’s a very unique, mixed emotion over a long period" [cite: 35]. This suggests that happy tears, particularly those shed during complex life transitions, may sometimes be the physical manifestation of this higher-order neurological state. It requires a sophisticated blending of emotional inputs, memories, and cultural context that only advanced mammalian brains can process [cite: 33].

## The Psychological and Physical Benefits of Crying for Joy

Regardless of whether tears are triggered by pure, unadulterated joy or a deeply bittersweet milestone, shedding them appears to have measurable impacts on an individual's well-being. The traditional view, tracing back to early psychodynamic theories, is that crying provides "catharsis"—a dramatic purging of pent-up emotional energy that leaves the individual feeling cleansed, relieved, and psychologically lighter [cite: 36, 37, 38]. 

### The Neurochemistry of Emotional Relief

Physiologically, crying for extended periods is known to stimulate the release of endogenous opioids and oxytocin, fundamentally altering the brain's neurochemical landscape [cite: 5, 11, 24, 27, 37]. 

*   **Endorphins (Endogenous Opioids):** Acting as the body's natural painkillers, endorphins numb both physical discomfort and acute emotional distress. The massive release of endorphins can induce a mild stage of physiological numbness or even a slight euphoric lift following an intense sobbing session [cite: 4, 24, 37].
*   **Oxytocin:** Often dubbed the "cuddle hormone" or "bonding hormone," oxytocin promotes feelings of warmth, calm, and interpersonal connection. Elevated oxytocin levels help to down-regulate the sympathetic stress response, lowering cortisol levels and mitigating anxiety [cite: 5, 11, 24, 37]. 

Furthermore, proponents of emotional release argue that crying physically expels stress hormones from the body. Because emotional tears are rich in ACTH (a precursor to cortisol) and adrenaline, weeping literally flushes stress biomarkers out of the system, acting as a biological detoxifier [cite: 5, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28]. 

### Does Crying Actually Make Us Feel Better?

While the neurochemical mechanisms of catharsis sound foolproof, the psychological reality of crying is highly dependent on context. Do people actually feel better after they cry?

A 2026 study published in *Collabra: Psychology* by Stefan Stieger sought to answer this question by taking crying research out of the artificial constraints of the laboratory. Using a customized smartphone tracking application, researchers monitored the daily crying habits of 106 adults in real-time over four weeks. The findings revealed that the emotional benefits of crying depend almost entirely on the *trigger* for the tears [cite: 39].

*   **Tears of Personal Distress:** When individuals cried due to loneliness, helplessness, or feeling overwhelmed, they experienced a sharp drop in positive emotions and a severe spike in negative emotions that lingered for over an hour. The promised cathartic relief did not immediately materialize, and their overall mood remained suppressed for the rest of the day, only returning to baseline the following morning [cite: 39].
*   **Tears of Harmony and Joy:** Conversely, when participants cried tears of harmony—such as witnessing an act of extreme kindness, experiencing a profound connection, or feeling immense joy—they did not experience a prolonged emotional hangover. Within 15 minutes of shedding these positive tears, participants reported a strong, measurable drop in negative baseline emotions, effectively clearing their psychological slate and boosting their overall mood [cite: 39].

This robust field data suggests that crying happy tears may be uniquely efficient at restoring emotional balance compared to tears of sorrow. 

### The Dangers of Suppressing Joyful Tears

Intentionally suppressing the urge to cry—whether out of embarrassment, cultural conditioning, or stoicism—can be actively detrimental. While a notable 2023 University of Cambridge study found that training individuals to suppress specific *negative thoughts* and fears can reduce depression and anxiety over time, suppressing the physical *expression* of positive, prosocial emotion (like happy tears) operates on a different biological axis [cite: 27, 37, 40, 41]. 

Laboratory meta-analyses consistently show that experimentally manipulated emotional suppression is associated with greater physiological stress reactivity, leading to elevated systolic blood pressure and prolonged sympathetic nervous system arousal [cite: 41]. Bottling up happy tears traps the body in the high-arousal state triggered by the amygdala, denying the parasympathetic nervous system the opportunity to deploy its calming, acetylcholine-driven response [cite: 27, 37, 41].

## The Social Function: Crying as a Communicative Signal

Beyond regulating internal brain chemistry and cardiovascular arousal, happy tears serve a vital outward, evolutionary purpose: they are a profound and unambiguous social signal. 

### Eliciting Empathy and Prosocial Behavior

Because humans are the only animals that produce emotional tears (while animals like elephants or dogs produce basal tears for lubrication, there is no scientific evidence they cry from emotion), evolutionary biologists hypothesize that visible tears evolved to foster social cohesion and ensure group survival [cite: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 42]. Crying physically blurs the vision of the crier, rendering them momentarily handicapped. Therefore, shedding tears is an inherent, costly display of physical and emotional vulnerability [cite: 3, 43]. 

When observers see someone crying, it bypasses cognitive filters and triggers immediate, automatic activity in the empathy-processing circuits of their own brains [cite: 3]. Behavioral studies consistently demonstrate that faces with visible tears are judged to be less aggressive, more trustworthy, warmer, and more in need of support than the exact same facial expressions presented without tears [cite: 2, 43, 44]. 

In behavioral economic experiments, participants acting as "investors" in a Trust game were significantly more likely to share their financial endowments with a partner who had visible tears on their face, proving that crying directly stimulates prosocial, altruistic behavior and resource-sharing in observers [cite: 43]. 

When an individual cries tears of joy at a wedding or a graduation, it serves as a silent, highly visible broadcast of the moment's immense value. It signals a depth of feeling that transcends spoken language, inviting witnesses to share in the emotion. This dynamic elicits care, reinforces social safety, and strengthens interpersonal community bonds [cite: 1, 3, 7, 11, 37, 45].

### The Requirement of "Close Others"

However, the social benefits of crying are heavily dependent on the environment and the audience. A 2024 retrospective study analyzing over 2,200 daily social interactions found that individuals almost exclusively cry in the presence of "close others" (intimate friends, family members, romantic partners) rather than among strangers [cite: 44]. 

When people receive empathetic, response-dependent support while crying, their mood improves significantly [cite: 1, 38]. But if tears are shed in a non-supportive, alienating, or highly competitive environment (such as a hostile workplace), the crier often feels shame and embarrassment. This negative social feedback loop completely negates any physiological benefits of the endorphin release, transforming a potentially soothing event into a source of acute stress [cite: 1, 11, 22, 45]. 

Because happy tears are generally shed in celebratory environments—surrounded by loved ones who are eager to offer congratulations and physical comfort—they are perfectly positioned to maximize the interpersonal benefits of crying, reinforcing mutual care and solidarity [cite: 1, 7].

## Cultural Variations in Happy Tears

While the biological hardware of the lacrimal system and the autonomic nervous system is universal, the social software that governs *when* and *where* humans allow themselves to cry is deeply programmed by culture. 

### Display Rules and Emotional Expression

Psychologists Paul Ekman and David Matsumoto pioneered the study of "cultural display rules"—the socially learned guidelines, instilled from early childhood, that dictate the appropriateness of emotional expression in various settings [cite: 46, 47, 48, 49]. These unwritten rules govern whether an individual will freely let happy tears roll down their face or fiercely suppress them to maintain decorum.

In 2025, an extensive psychological study introduced the Display Rules Assessment for Positive Emotions (DRAPE). Testing over 1,100 participants across seven distinct countries, researchers mapped exactly how people regulate positive emotions [cite: 50]. They found that across all cultures, display rules are weakest (meaning expression is most free) when individuals are in private or securely surrounded by close friends. However, display rules are uniformly strictest for positive emotions that signal deep vulnerability—such as "feeling moved" or experiencing profound awe, which are the exact triggers responsible for happy tears [cite: 50]. 

### Individualism vs. Collectivism

The DRAPE study and subsequent cross-cultural research highlight a stark divide based on societal archetypes:

*   **Individualistic Cultures:** Nations such as the United States, Canada, and parts of Western Europe heavily prize personal authenticity, uniqueness, and open self-expression. In these cultures, high-arousal emotions (like extreme, outward excitement leading to tears) are highly valued as signs of a genuine experience. In psychology, this is known as "ideal affect." Consequently, individuals in individualistic societies report crying more frequently and intensely, viewing it as a healthy release [cite: 49, 51, 52]. 
*   **Collectivistic Cultures:** In many East Asian nations, cultural norms prioritize group harmony, social cohesion, and emotional restraint over individual expression. Low-arousal emotions (like calm contentment and serenity) are favored. Individuals in collectivistic cultures are more likely to suppress highly visible emotional outbursts—even positive ones—to avoid disrupting the social equilibrium or drawing undue attention to themselves [cite: 46, 47, 49, 52]. 

This cultural coding extends to the highest, most intense levels of human achievement. In a fascinating 2023 study analyzing video footage of 446 Olympic gold medalists reacting on the podium, researchers found distinct demographic patterns in tears of joy [cite: 53]. Female athletes were generally more likely to cry than men, aligning with global averages regarding emotional expression. However, athletes from South American countries exhibited the highest rates of happy crying overall. Conversely, winners from countries dominated by a single religion, or those with exceptionally high linguistic diversity, cried the least [cite: 53]. 

Furthermore, athletes from nations with higher female workforce participation rates (indicating more egalitarian societies with blurred traditional gender roles) saw significantly higher rates of crying among both men and women [cite: 53]. This suggests that societies with less rigid gender norms foster a greater psychological freedom to express vulnerable, dimorphous emotions without fear of judgment.

## Bottom line

Tears of joy are far more than a biological quirk or a sign of emotional fragility; they are a sophisticated regulatory mechanism bridging affective neuroscience, psychology, and social evolution. When intense positive experiences overwhelm the brain's capacity to process arousal, the autonomic nervous system deploys tears as a parasympathetic brake to restore physiological equilibrium, ending the internal tug-of-war between stress and calm. While recent metabolomic data suggests these happy tears may carry a slightly different chemical signature than tears of grief, their ultimate purpose is dualistic: they rapidly soothe the individual through the release of endorphins and oxytocin, while simultaneously broadcasting a powerful, vulnerability-driven signal that fosters empathy and strengthens human connection.

## Sources

1. [When to Hide your Tears of Joy: Display Rules for Positive Emotions](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340924951_When_to_Hide_your_Tears_of_Joy_Display_Rules_for_Positive_Emotions)
2. [Emotions and Cultural Display](https://open.maricopa.edu/psy132/chapter/7-2-emotions-and-cultural-display/)
3. [Cultural Display Rules](https://open.maricopa.edu/culturepsychology/chapter/cultural-display-rules/)
4. [Display Rules in Expressing Emotions](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotions-in-our-lives/202405/display-rules-in-expressing-emotions)
5. [Culture, Display Rules, and Emotion Judgments](http://www.davidmatsumoto.com/content/001-017%20Matsumoto%20et%20al..pdf)
6. [Why Do We Cry When We're Happy?](https://www.boredpanda.com/why-do-we-cry-when-were-happy/)
7. [What to Know About Tears of Happiness](https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-tears-of-happiness)
8. [Benefits of Crying](https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-crying)
9. [People Who Cry Are Happier](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-different-kind-of-therapy/202310/people-who-cry-are-happier)
10. [Medical News Today: Benefits of Crying](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319631)
11. [Are Tears of Joy and Sorrow Chemically the Same?](https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/are-tears-of-joy-and-sorrow-chemically-the-same-heres-the-truth_18000/)
12. [Do emotional tears differ from reflex tears in composition?](https://www.droracle.ai/articles/102901/do-emotional-tears-differ-from-reflex-tears-in-composition)
13. [Metabolomics of Emotional Tears](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10476548/)
14. [The Biochemistry of Tears](https://www.bibalex.org/sciplanet/Article/Details?id=19105)
15. [What are Tears Made of: The Biochemistry of Emotion](https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Tears-Made-of-The-Biochemistry-of-Emotion.aspx)
16. [Happy Neuron: Why do we cry when we are happy](https://www.happy-neuron.com/scientific-news/why-do-we-cry-when-we-re-happy)
17. [Why I'm so happy I could cry makes sense](https://news.yale.edu/2014/11/11/why-i-m-so-happy-i-could-cry-makes-sense)
18. [Fatherly: Why People Cry When They're Happy](https://www.fatherly.com/health/why-people-cry-when-theyre-happy)
19. ["So Happy I Could Shout!" and "So Happy I Could Cry!"](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28415957/)
20. [Dimorphous expressions represent and communicate motivational aspects of positive emotions](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02699931.2017.1301388)
21. [Healthline: Happy Crying](https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-crying)
22. [Why do we cry? Cognitive affective science behind tears](https://www.holyfamily.edu/about/news-and-media/bold-ideas/why-do-we-cry-cognitive-affective-science-behind-tears)
23. [All About Emotional Tears](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/all-about-emotional-tears)
24. [Why Do We Cry When We're Happy? (Psychology Today)](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-babble/201308/why-do-we-cry-when-were-happy)
25. [Tears of joy flow differently across cultures and demographics](https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/tears-joy-flow-differently-across-cultures-and-demographics)
26. [Cultural Differences in Emotions](https://psychuniverse.com/cultural-differences-in-emotions/)
27. [Cross Cultural Tears - Overview](https://osf.io/fj9bd/overview)
28. [Culture and Crying](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254081226_Culture_and_Crying)
29. [Cultural Differences in Emotion Processing](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5381435/)
30. [Futura Sciences: Emotional vs Reflex Tears](https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/are-tears-of-joy-and-sorrow-chemically-the-same-heres-the-truth_18000/)
31. [DrOracle: Emotional vs Reflex Tears](https://www.droracle.ai/articles/102901/do-emotional-tears-differ-from-reflex-tears-in-composition)
32. [Metabolomics of positive and negative emotional tears](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10476548/)
33. [Does the chemical composition of tears differ based on emotion?](https://www.quora.com/Does-the-chemical-composition-of-tears-differ-based-on-the-emotion-that-is-causing-the-tears)
34. [Are Happy Tears Different From Sad Tears?](https://theopticalshoppetn.com/are-happy-tears-different-from-sad-tears/)
35. [Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion](https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Dimorphous-Expressions-of-Positive-Emotion%3A-of-Both-Arag%C3%B3n-Clark/6c35336ec529c405ce6188d532795e0aa87419f2)
36. [Science in the news: Dimorphous Expression](https://prezi.com/kv-rq0bormlt/science-in-the-news-dimorphous-expression-cute-aggresion/)
37. [Google Scholar: Oriana Aragón](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vSHhoUYAAAAJ&hl=en)
38. [Displays of both care and aggression in response to cute stimuli](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25626441/)
39. [Dimorphous Expressions: Motivational Aspects](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28415957/)
40. [Suppressing negative emotions may actually benefit mental health](https://www.salon.com/2023/09/20/suppressing-negative-emotions-may-actually-benefit-your-mental-heath-study-finds/)
41. [Emotion Suppression and Physiological Stress Reactivity](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12312699/)
42. [Reasons to stop crying and relation to mental and physical improvement](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/reasons-to-stop-crying-and-relation-to-mental-and-physical-Improvement_tbl3_230794248)
43. [The Tearing Effect](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10480939/)
44. [Positive vs negative expression](https://agingandmentalhealthlab.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1911/files/2020-07/Pos-versus-neg-expression-JAMT-2009.pdf)
45. [Why humans shed emotional tears but no other animal does](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202604/why-humans-shed-emotional-tears-but-no-other-animal-does)
46. [Social Signal Function of Crying in Daily Life](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38010769/)
47. [Tears Increase Prosocial Behavior](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10299780/)
48. [Crying It Out: The complexities of mood regulation](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-fainting-couch/202306/crying-it-out-the-complexities-of-mood-regulation)
49. [Happy is stronger than sad: Emotional information modulates social attention](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362786557_Happy_is_stronger_than_sad_Emotional_information_modulates_social_attention)
50. [Biochemical and metabolomic differences between tears](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10476548/)
51. [The neuroscience of why we cry happy tears (Reddit)](https://www.reddit.com/r/EverythingScience/comments/1lgrzf3/the_neuroscience_of_why_we_cry_happy_tears/)
52. [Mixed Emotions: The Full Spectrum](https://www.salon.com/2025/03/23/mixed-emotions-the-full-spectrum-of/)
53. [ScienceDaily: Neuroscience of mixed emotions](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161150.htm)
54. [USC Dornsife: Neuroscience is exploring mixed emotions](https://dornsife.usc.edu/stories/mixed-emotions-neuroscience-is-exploring-how-your-brain-lets-you-experience-two-opposite-feelings-at-once/)
55. [EurekAlert: Neuroscience of mixed emotions](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1048200)
56. [The Psychology of Happy Tears](https://www.pockitudes.com/blog/happy-tears)
57. [3 reasons why happy tears are vital to your mental health](https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/blog/social-instincts/202305/3-reasons-why-happy-tears-are-vital-to-your-mental-health)
58. [Why It's Good For You To Cry](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_its_good_for_you_to_cry)
59. [Tears of Joy and Meaning of Life](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8957987/)
60. [Benefits of Crying (MNT)](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319631)
61. [Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion (Yale)](https://acmelab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/0956797614561044.pdf)
62. [Displays of both care and aggression in response to cute stimuli (PubMed)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25626441/)
63. [Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion (Semantic Scholar)](https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Dimorphous-Expressions-of-Positive-Emotion%3A-of-Both-Arag%C3%B3n-Clark/6c35336ec529c405ce6188d532795e0aa87419f2)
64. ["So Happy I Could Shout!" and "So Happy I Could Cry!" (ResearchGate)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335001258_Cognition_and_Emotion_So_Happy_I_Could_Shout_and_So_Happy_I_Could_Cry_Dimorphous_expressions_represent_and_communicate_motivational_aspects_of_positive_emotions_View_supplementary_material)
65. [Universal Emotions Research](https://oaskpublishers.com/assets/article-pdf/universal-emotions-research-2024-2025-a-narrative-review.pdf)
66. [Pressure release valve analogy for dimorphous expressions](https://dokumen.pub/progressive-dystopia-abolition-antiblackness-and-schooling-in-san-francisco-9781478007401.html)
67. [Malacologia Pressure Valve Analogy](https://archive.org/stream/malacologia211981inst/malacologia211981inst_djvu.txt)
68. [Mechanosensitive Channel MscL](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325857231_Ultrasonic_Control_of_Neural_Activity_through_Activation_of_the_Mechanosensitive_Channel_MscL)
69. [The Science of Tears: Why Crying is Good for You](https://beboldpsychnc.com/the-science-of-tears-why-crying-is-good-for-you/)
70. [Does crying actually make you feel better?](https://www.psypost.org/does-crying-actually-make-you-feel-better-new-psychology-research-shows-it-depends-on-a-key-factor/)
71. [Psychology study confirms positive emotions fade faster than negative emotions](https://ls.berkeley.edu/news/psychology-study-confirms-positive-emotions-fade-faster-negative-emotions)
72. [Healthline Benefits of Crying](https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-crying)
73. [MNT Benefits of Crying 2](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319631)
74. [Healthline Crying Spells](https://www.healthline.com/health/crying-spells)
75. [The Empowering Benefits of Crying](https://www.lemon8-app.com/k1ttekk_ppawppaws/7429677247897911813?region=us)
76. [Bridging the empathy gap or not: Reactions to ingroup and outgroup facial expressions](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359042458_Bridging_the_empathy_gap_or_not_Reactions_to_ingroup_and_outgroup_facial_expressions)
77. [Why do I cry every time I see a motivational or sad video?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-I-cry-every-time-I-see-a-motivational-or-sad-video-Does-this-mean-I-am-weak-being-a-man)
78. [Masculinities and Language](https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/99318/9781040325636.pdf)

**Sources:**
1. [aao.org](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGz4LQLF0J7UKBaI5LCGglF54XZBsm8KaVgvL6INefMok2-myZYd0mhNT7ju03Yl2LiRWAQSGKCvJ5XqmMhSfMEAaM_J8kN_Nx9Fu2nTSt2RTu1ZpPMxUOAhKasD5P8_kU8DnjGLy-tIL7S_-dW7jPHuZXFS5OJ4YjjFMSNvwc=)
2. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFxKdysMCASJrorjlMUFfCaUFVv8sFpNP2IxtX-YAYmAh0R3p8bClXlHEV3csrF0T0dAw6o_eiF0NnEho6PAgWJJ0OLGN7oE4FOwhyTLr82D9_wCIscntH2VMVULYUaAvglb88S4vITPQ==)
3. [psychologytoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEVt_X0GdZXVYNny46YARRaFt-z7BpHYsheQmu_U7D9EWAcPoM_Ecz53Z3JnW3lY6sk_2R_9CfEN4eEKaiM_CPniCogX2r2JS0xciKsovDrcp7s1HpVspuqfkjWgX-OnQcMc9Mevxnjg0Fi0YJ8rfdpN3r20Cs6e_KRYBGzDpJm7_8ujsrXACwEzCuyFTv2tE73qh8wDC2xNzAeJajICK1ob-zoO6CDJQ7ue4hfQok=)
4. [psychologytoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQG_ALLhtTH9_q5IfPc9O6GX1t8PYLl7NRhnDSfzzK_7OTKj986QIxlY0M0IR6HSTGxwWytzRLVVJUeafldH9JzYITiFpRkeo-Z2Wtff_eMHFjWvBPHQMjL3MKOF2pkx-l9yPI5f118bJapdj6-3gD9QN8n9NhyWYegqYIMp38ZX9iJWPYWoAu37myp4CJId1EO2xqmD1EZzzit-aQ==)
5. [medicalnewstoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFa3e8GjJD00HdTIkMFxYDDlGUG0cpWpCnH_Muggwe4JEF7XNNTiFdN31A_blwBpZT6vLc2CM_jxYIh3aE8h9spGjTzfIVfSwPTtNYUkqDMh-ShZd_ws24dT9eXVzca-NBimXiYb48=)
6. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGdp8PFtJ6wJThVteR-JpfAgUjqKGLAXeoZIYGspsYM8heXjNXYatWwr3PrwliCKlXC48IMmM95frautfuYyFQ5mVbQtWiCNjQR7HxTh-9TRkwtzfxFyMqVaorDHiQluCpLAqxrx8z_Qw==)
7. [boredpanda.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGV4mvupYij61B15soEaQvwg7ZyO28virDbGSe8iHClAkkC1Q7st3dUAyqEXIVBBfY3Yy4yI0q5OIDN3I1lP9-on5RFPbzG3PFV2b8Su2G0G7Le3JxDlwuvQFGb-GqKmaLF-PqGpYO9wcVIXFhrNW4=)
8. [healthline.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFohNoNmpCIrDzKVGZmRGZGnta7HRoFVwNZuEnWKaE_3gCHOXJv_V20wzSpbTNBgkULZa44EV0ut6hfvwzce_OtVvUJhOxLFZqbKp7sVqCEhoWHvFRhBZ3iCsQfes_xzEh2CT_c)
9. [fatherly.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGiceGlLbwfre8mQl3lFZWIBcAvJloaaNurpFqLIBRWFDL8q47U1nWy2vRphWiHiJCzpSfwzTIdBs1H6B-15Orac4LCGbOZ2fO6BjOEokINSSBNc-V95G-OY0vGHQKOBcEFG-DIqKMBuyTwYJpkPBkEVlVe4Qcm)
10. [psychologytoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQETYraD5Z5JZIbmTXClUSHnQIPlgVFDdaJzXMlhDziShoEdfOKUBwjubbK92sHKsQPqK0Tr2gACjLHg3CRZcvQ3EEV9kswef4sHblgKoOrJI2QATFldn67hJosxMaEiTmNFPkcC94qBIP7o6sP7muaoRGvKwrEkNSfdUJglJhLjciPSQhn2TtZCHGt2Nn4NgA==)
11. [psychologytoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHxb5OpWJsyEUUgaPE5u379m6oRdBlGm8J7ExA82MPrMoMCUg8jWpvpvJ-oFnTEJ6j37QgCnxV8WWF1bFGf3ZuDqNBrQzLizOdeZLCmL_ZmSvEdw1WTLVlYR2RsF6tiYDXxK75sepLZzFsw8f9xV_gMpyk-baZ1I4vFdC8nwPs46uU5vhQWXQHhbCXEM1bOe16iWhQS7hpL3qk_R1Aj-yqrR9lAic5tq-R-)
12. [holyfamily.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEX1FAD14cHF1lRjoexFgXdOMkvmO4OzdhifmGLIFemKPFyHfvUYgmMoErnkcfdesTMed4EUIqSDy1MbQfU-PN3Ysff8_eZHiO0z9pgx_E6oA4FIlgrJjwMoxACcpsGD3Nz-Iy744BSfObRoDYdmAUSDkA7OvADb9RDIUUSdylFdYq3LoPQ-QKy0FlGIXMMkcq4p2SaeJECudhg1lY_NT1xk5p02nLTYA==)
13. [happy-neuron.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGruTO9TVQaGyxG5-FzY600sNw5D_0d4LlbXNJWHdpQhtzaXvcmhkPOQQ_DItbxT6_33khKboCFQbIdIg8lT7MMgYNlJYlaTAbsY-5y3gTI3LsPJHQGHJkM6Iku7b2Srdi1mhUk-ubtNJzTbcmFAXPF198quub2T-R9hwsuPfXTj08=)
14. [yale.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGqp9mjBkdMFhn5pIerkan_nbVJ9okehzUB1VRdqqCjqU_pitqj4JtZxC3lYdP5GtRta0atyJrFUigoXSoVvWX8fxkbnD8nxRvGl21lQqM-Mze82800l7yoV2vYtM5ocLSL4-ZKY4zSV8QnUcgNRK6FZJ03o-YKaBLOH1l5LDq-)
15. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEJ5eEIJ1lOKyToNmdsTbCU8OLNGkRmT7Wf8_atA5lYHYbKUAIa1-KaCrWjqMuxaHoXlFkyPU0b_SlXdaON2zJYH7XWc6kekG6XN1L_FhPo4d94UWVMIwAT83GDIlu46Q==)
16. [semanticscholar.org](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGgn6goA5twC989ClgA0_ZvNlJ01a5wu4wxFcRs-Ou3Nk23aNJPZifSefO-gOVy411EEQJQRvvKPU7p0uUgccaKoTf8JFhsSnSMogqWrBM6nf1H-_voUrhDa7XktTtxwbgTBY0PEuZwbGSHW6KBOh1VQnDnI5EjxSUMBGNttIUa280ujn7jgBPNkxOGA6luz4hU81dMFHnBb3IJyYsDubTpKhC4vKfRMYxmN4Qk23R9orckR0YrAOHqVSu8F_GwWMT18etctIhLBqAb9SC0)
17. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFtEdsKIHyH9n1tjmF_vHgIsr44kNw9U5tfk9T0i98REfrwlIP-F3LIx7yhMDMI3NA-loVa3lYWUDM27gipiPn6ed5WQZ7c_MDjtlP5tcsUsn1eptcGm3nKbVVars4TXA==)
18. [yale.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFNIG-kMeUMpcAeKMrbUIrigXzO-fimG-XAmrrcHcRf_rlJP8fhpHF2RU2NFiZRFX1UJcmphl4EwnNBtAVq32zuYIi0rG_tniHsBSABdPAyatE7DqL9WCka9tL4KlqHRSmITkN66cvWdY8tJ8IEApbm2LiyV7mS1A==)
19. [researchgate.net](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEO5yBTiK0z_KpRPKwCyzIbxsS_9J6TXtt02gdgEzTCrWRTVbwfXM8ni6GBBfr_sltfy1L92OPOcvqsu-fkNNhHeAlpIYrCGu0sOIhelyxVY_Y5ZhBHKKdDcK0aUo8wEmPwLhrhRe_STiRoRyLfVfkX18DD231hwSjJSin_wC9IeqFkZObCdYJlYV0hJ7kUVD6rtlaizjQ7t5MlR8fXxmoUUqMVUcZAM0VcCvY3_vATQzqp3zXTwoseY0CEvUi7JXrnck1T_1zvvppJ3vqDcWM8mTSWktNL4lmBSvhwoGr3FWjUxs12lGEtFviV6hOIEkGpuKRQhO2mOSRwoV4daP8oyKNw7D23j83naTdPmIvHF3zgkpgsRtAiZO3TklCDCE5WaOHITGM=)
20. [prezi.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEaJ2Pm6MjWCHXq9dV_pyeV4MJMsAta6zCAI3U6nlRgkhcnQBw1pTpo1GlLAroZdvA5xgLU3iNAKzpUAhfxtnoBg1PMp-lc8irigxDehNfmflGdn91ZHOSCVlTR-ac1i2-Y7YAvuTqWnxaDc5VstyUc-GAbjSaAoJlRrm6xqNmRCV7FDVx_Z85Mjc_XJwiS)
21. [tandfonline.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEyVjcww7Ee1ec3s9crs-UphtrLODkDH2sooSWJP3cZbQGBvksapUhX8H8o7YF8iwszui65_vvk_k_rauhg5U8KxOB3lfwCXuQ505jLGBKvlxkxdwnSR7U4v8zgV0KToMVHwZoMEQutw-97fW6fjCFseAn6DnNqHg==)
22. [webmd.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFMo2TfPFsIiy6Mp7dd5bEB0K4sIfu1_SGoJ7Yc2Vx1lw9WpBUeFwnLjesZ2AKCNCmlxY8VOYTGKvHS7tnCKaUUMDSrA9Tbril-gtp7PkKK8jROOI0RdvCq0_VKVr17wQr_PGq4MhAT_QD23cIYyyQ2V1LH)
23. [psychologytoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEpsYGeeJMDWpOmlOWiJdfbZTnNX3flUGYuHzHLYsvMcwELxZlaXCU3PEngAQsInXHJ7z58ILs5Y7ToK4B7UzQOAJ-W4bOS5in1HLhNo7CbKXIQSf2yzVDHrT6GvW2wcRm5znp7xzT1CwZkqTVnMHqYszOcg-cv417Kj_lQiU3kp_rfEiny7IslAzeTFSgWaHHICA7YgKb9A31vZIrYXO0NmOCHsapRUuaPCqFJPD9p)
24. [healthline.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGSlzOVfx7oTb1Owz3bc4T5X2TPsfd-XmMc-9vd3rPIzGqNjbLJ6nvEIg-s5VfH_3AmLB3_l38Bo5j4YT6jaEzC6DTwuAWTVfRSBzl1BGLyDax7QUfSITN-x9RmltyfpxLsdub89KCbUlxO)
25. [futura-sciences.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGfcRn3rxsc-117fdq72WxFtoqPppVMpzstHluZJZlb2_NVBN_XtyZ-mj9iobbPEUnGkxB3Imi9yJfpDuCJ_i3Bk8JLEEgJ3ebzf4KXrlokYkLNgAuW2atEtrOfrC-Cs74wIvg_TAo2DxI8wARGT1xWMBuzg5FTVc3TD2f0L8HJYRy-ZpmX__lRZBfCgB3wNwnmSsNAHNGNQrroYmxpdII=)
26. [bibalex.org](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGtrD9O8yhCrB1fI9uoZHUMbJ94AYhuC1IwBIdq67_tyS8_PxJI30f9krQp5W2cJUEcb8GXwJq2vLQNLBHuLlw5yzWCMqgDVSCtPoVRhkOS-ruDLOuC0oxwtecnnZla9ru4YGgD7u2XAzh28JP_GEiB)
27. [beboldpsychnc.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQE1gjYalQhRdRpdwTI28vd9UxQlQ2bpgEaVH3-jWRIZ_UT4BwEzZcQbQh1fVmZ8qS5ACXa9uaO7hLSLAN-6xbOegUQI1eQydpARbsNjWd-XwMwPSETa2toe3hZxrQhl5BKi3hYzYhPoE8wsOIOlC6lOCjU4kJbALkBqLaZz0vj_ww==)
28. [news-medical.net](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEJngsYUffFaRQ82J-BmtJfDGr9sXoYqw7iZ3pbT4D3yI6s5tFjG8uJe0hlT_gtsQqMq-Mh1-9pLqc2K58Si0EC0ShxvyBXCs4hdNRC99Uh_Et6-GW_94c5GODkJ3zhYWluyT4TnNcDTPDegUB_pHm0ftODWqVoEUZ5mu4i0WZdcFrfRCfCRxx3XgnKvStI89di)
29. [theopticalshoppetn.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFYWCpfyH6vfFb6LHiStqjB9BQR-FLFeeBnTKdw9HEZllOBQxEjA0Wd-1WyG5-r9XryQym58gqS6J5Pf0QgpiZxyzznQJ3Nvv6-VLlB8MmdrfhwRpOLCf4LBMeQNpNDjKNNGfjLVps4nCCHmEdmi1BQLddmWTTOhmd6fDgjutM=)
30. [droracle.ai](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHZXvDE7-S8ZWhg1utW8XO7fPFaaQr6AJ4i339q9Gd5zCAtnrUX9-4Eab4C4NL219nC8b4aLUeUKtJSwWTwkiAFMJhn9LiHyK4DEZr_w-vkbRWymWpLY94sYObGfG4EdolyVMHnmxM7_thdmULb4r5By2AFR1YP2iuFgt4Q8ZD-KOyXngBra-lmcGt4oBxgWOgvW4Eub4rGtQ==)
31. [quora.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGhNoamlkeUQI7u7v_SHxSBMJQoxz1Fin3Z-3iFmztukgMAliVsDKu8KnTHHwWH5C4VZE28zvbansNbWQYy1fJ5aPgyWT_mvBKhvM_hBlcYR5GF4fSiTQ8r6hN5dU8GEbC60tZipeVXK-PcnbAVNs3L12-qfFCsJsvapfmfPdGrWuijRr-UtCdBl7vak7A3_Nf_u_Q2mbTAUs-JEsgZ3GNcmcxgt2TaSPE=)
32. [usc.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQH2REICSCysFxcX8sNBTkR1q27laRFM6XLo31HFk16Fbq6fcJYQQCGAmXK5EG2N48UmZBSzeJUj4A5SwB9N_S6smr7alv7ZLjZXEnp0HuEP6DAcxQwEXN_JslgQUQ8aSzI-Qu1pfqWGcGIpjqz8KTBAubARKV9rs6Z7kQG_PRaicXiyaOovqrfRxUjCvSlTXsGfMmqKUo3uFiIL9ova673xojUB1sa7HxREHLHApTY4pz2HCAD6fOwLOUuwYARxv9wC4g==)
33. [salon.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGDMRampgRo0gO1CuWQtjEHOUHajkxzuYN1u519v5qf26GBkkGsjOCRZsm3PUTh6YcKD1Z1ihMyYF9uchezpRfsAJ6H5XiBsQcx2EHOYI-HTwKRJBH0bAa2A4hgFKP2dSxjMtAx-CVs-5aA-P2_h_Rm6mItDM2N29wwqME=)
34. [sciencedaily.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQG64TmElCUiCjWl1DUURDwhNetgy54CjfkolrouTVL5E0DwFzpj33WpZw-YBc1V5WPNcLBF4z98txXOhlmHbmL_WfKj4IwMCrvYAkAbIielLZgbOxdnJvaAnOJGH4Kn81mtv14sxC8hDuyVh5JZ0E4IH7EMHA==)
35. [eurekalert.org](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHhgf8VsZMGPdAbM9wQg-sCVNVgsJewv_oh9cO0SSBvVhrkx6fd9rkz85ROIUi0haN-1OCVDqzr3TDmSmZfbnYiYCeEeG8oegbnN6Jle6ayngT3le9Dz_gq6QzHhvyBVhuCTVHkhns=)
36. [researchgate.net](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQE7E3Q_IAKbFIPQe60zjx6pPmecaO0_EBo3izsypM4EK4lgH8LgFhWTTeFP6iYJH9U-rTZZTWdfT-3wJt5Kq-S9XIhQmSCJMXczYYlPmZw-1E_KJCyCBfzU7Iu-Vzt-kVhSUfF6iRNi0ySL_U03x2vkqCRUtiRgRY5g3TUk_ZRFBWVw0xNaKg1iGtywFBUmBC5S7BOFhwrYpdtbkcejwO-r0tZHIqkA3xT06Ml_eS7q)
37. [pockitudes.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEorBDWhs7hp0234f9Sdkv5uCD4H-OJvbpJxqiRk9xBR3iktbKw2j5h34Sfv6cGWKWnQwMSimpyomM3K9bnmk23KK5kGKS4RD_hG8sVaazsI1n7C3mnQDgI-hteFS419J4Y)
38. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHKSpd7EAJ5lqbbMBL_NQa4e5wfC9wSSW1_U16DVMLB4K-iOhSzkPtZBFKO05hsU5Z5cjwWZi5GGB71je2cg1jCLLglGbXV4i7EyPN8QEWwLSlnY4NatsCSxuxFg3YglkrnWhjxOGFh)
39. [psypost.org](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQE7Cz1j7cqRfr4q_OCXyiYdlYGlWROj7ddVspOydx_YOsx8ex5dS2A337yyPXccRZro9XsulCPAYWSUqBpSZz_zlpMhTKbiMX_08AUEFxlI43oNdyRIHd5xd3vgW6hDYpda2d-pQn52JJ13pIag-yUVtul4jKZkwne8QEPN1HXOKQ9nzj6arOi__9V42Xy7u9UZxSntBoKBuWn40YtcqJJ8IYSBsS6ByewMAxHE93UkVsM=)
40. [salon.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGCzEXDt6QxYFueTHGCOtj_E_FreCkCwPWsCuFyA7SDSfSp2rho__GBd-q5wp6c9CeKFkjtzLi6yoJirgPeYnLuj-IIYX3P6jHhUy1B1EaRvp5H1hIfgM3NEr65XeR6ubCNtBnrdZg2MDSObBXe4lLCUZHv-mYQvtuznwEYJYrBCtmC_4qaMMxHZqk8e1o7Mi-SyhsZQgT_BtPcWhcS7FJMgUL167IQvCo=)
41. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHHSDMo9adlbWTK_49i4bdDUE5AGZOBgzZkOmTcoDBeaFjn7HsVpZfrklmQHVeYi1O08q6NMWclPhXsbWwa9IYihKxYejOy-SK-3segY1WvOmYGHBoZEa4UbXgiiNcqsmAnLOAsxLlHog==)
42. [osf.io](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHEgDDY28TgRhvkwmITGqoYOlK8S6WjayxuIiyWyr6OVhAW0WqksCixexLVg9h0aunQ4vcNuQhCMsFQs7ypa745QWKLwWk9CRMTxF0TcjDY0TOvDA==)
43. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHBuhwbrHnldknisd72cpNzqzoLwfkuGE13YoJUJYEx4y8ON26LZvHtWay5_QJ_vhg3IBdjYv90XEM0O7iBAPt420r8YOnYkXvqO_m5Far6dSXzMHL5YxSMjFe4HoxlGZHzT8ziRLDrbQ==)
44. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGzzZlaGywYuqYymJTsiBiF9tBxJW3PfVeSr_9kZKeh8PYe7bsMqLtNHRbHC_4zrC9rp13CWHV8hz9rVe9GkRtQFPFJ7dGmJWFYvQBygTlrjrBIDwPQSMVb0AysdFr8KQ==)
45. [berkeley.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHPceSXuIM_MWcrixmGQdiUMEVp3MRcSAdllhFudpFPlXAt1jY9V8MCvZOR5PdmG_PywARgki28IZioNr3i3LRTwAYZVjDv2cEJs_erOofCMFsacThtfpzFgnGzm5LuCyUFyFRXw_BTMgLRRUsccZSCP07T9J5mSUAn9Ww9I0JD)
46. [maricopa.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEZGwd5VLUY1ALJmXO2sXeSh4A9LdqpT2p9Q2FvzD0mVXRJTMYJevcQGT8esNELyn7G3t3F-wUQuvaLTL4dafnUAUwl7uvpHq58W3_0lDvCC0jg6G4oJS1prb9xN-i4mkAQru40Zy1X8RDXti7OxttwRwJ835zX7AeMpCq5_tRl6GM=)
47. [maricopa.edu](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFfEcu9LUikoaH67bShB-gDMilcn1bo6BB6IiBbtFdRQPuwBVgSNYI2TxyGdzAJ0wc0TrdJP8vrCCoZxtDwcSS9WQMCq1XzLL-rY7JqhAN5rlZWHIz0UEnQwJYX8Bd0EAMk_yw1001EKGFOb-oIvUYr49n_EkqBbib97zc03J4mays=)
48. [psychologytoday.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGwHMswCua8E759vCbJGPU0PnEoBg9JzDhqCkbSMlhQa3aXk4J9Ik7Ncu48vyey86lxSJlLRpAvbU2LsV9hJifcWq3LFp6yJywhijCVWMTITooSkDct7iNqC7VaTni0ij-18HRDIBvM5Nw_qEi8JxYH4AyNyj0W7GKhlpreZs0_UjkQoBa2V5IeG7z5ZYYVO78I0V6vnvNOWai_YQYnX_k=)
49. [psychuniverse.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFTAWR_qsD1gCP1yl0VOKvZQxVKJ_GrNMaTqL_Y_3ZUDUWO9wfwzS0iEcWqGKzVKWM3d8jWxaIOZwlcRA0iZ8Ulmlmhg8kjV7KcXYyW4UtjPcalDA_-fVcBhl2_hrrZOXzJzK0al0YwQKjw1WucEbnjrw==)
50. [researchgate.net](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGAUIPUoFpuusZQG5xjgcKHtCkNc59igGUtI9v7dni31fLZV5T7PYGbc-s5rt_YlKpfww5QwJNRjFOWQM8KxtBm-atUmmIAN5_JInir8Ze9uTRe3-jBwWSbuAxtTAABrpQMnuecET1xrXrPIWvckGlWNSBClkpcStVFwy9hpOfyTBOo-xSQ6jIyZS9v81wXiaLErnm6LNM4xKNznJj3hnBL8z5cT__5WNNakQo=)
51. [researchgate.net](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQH54gvFlV0AqP4Zp8HFnBJe4osLY8rPk2WAs55t6znqg2colIAjaYtYYPmWEj_pyMclrBtiI6p2ZDIAJxZY8qs7L_S3nSHinY9UmmSA_4AoRzUmkBPnxEl-8CYYSnrevzWzRoNuMFxK2RC43F0KcGCFp0a0r4MFAT7ogFM=)
52. [nih.gov](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFq144_zip6JWypnpmFKVF_Za74KEZqGOf3BKPCkTiH9B2jSLz4V9pre5Q7H4sK65_eDOue3N9YnEUN87LmvCuXRWi5bFEW0s58gcT_RdYxMEi8Mtmi-6dyNxT8LTwqGWhyYjprDMJp)
53. [bps.org.uk](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHH019DwgzGiHAR_NOsro54TXN94kXffSJUsNAYi0YeMVJTcoQkR4zpaebk_ZctSZvI3SoNOjek3g8N9dc48igaT7owbCaQDyP7bcfv9G7bqSqJbP8AH9KHZmLDhk5v7ApQGCnMnjG9Te-dUXMBV8kAOFerNCywZNqO2wjEupLcfUmT6zhlFQIp6TuzJcfFhvnT7RgyB8C0NQ==)