Emotional tears may have evolved to trigger help or restraint from others and to signal what the crier values. This reframes crying as a strategic social cue, not just a byproduct of strong feelings.
— It offers an evolutionary lens on emotional expression that can inform debates about persuasion, authenticity, and norms in public and online life.
Steve Sailer
2025.08.30
50% relevant
Both pieces frame human behaviors as evolved social technologies that coordinate help and cooperation; here, alcohol‑centered feasting is linked to alliance‑building and labor mobilization across 186 societies, analogous to tears functioning as strategic social cues.
Rob Henderson
2025.08.19
70% relevant
The newsletter links to Daniel Sznycer and Debra Lieberman’s piece on 'the hidden calculations that determine whether you will cry,' which aligns with the evolutionary-signaling frame that tears function to elicit help and restraint.
David Pinsof
2025.08.19
70% relevant
Its summary of a 'venting' study—framing venting as a strategy for attacking rivals without appearing mean—maps onto the signaling lens that treats emotional expression as tactical social communication.
Aporia
2025.08.13
100% relevant
Daniel Sznycer and colleagues’ paper on the adaptive function of emotional tearing.