Text 1
For decades, evolutionary biologists have argued that emotional tearing, or crying, evolved primarily as a social signaling mechanism. Because human infants are exceptionally vulnerable, shedding tears serves as a visual and chemical distress signal that elicits immediate caregiving behaviors from adults. Among adults, crying signals vulnerability and downregulates aggression, fostering trust and cooperative bonds within social groups. Consequently, proponents of this view maintain that the primary evolutionary function of crying is strictly interpersonal, serving to recruit support and strengthen social cohesion.
Text 2
While the social benefits of crying are well-documented, focusing exclusively on interpersonal communication overlooks a critical physiological dimension. Research shows that emotional tears contain high levels of stress hormones and toxins, and the act of crying triggers the release of oxytocin and endorphins, which promote emotional recovery and return the body to a state of homeostasis. In studies where individuals cried in isolation, they reported significant reductions in psychological distress. Thus, crying also functions as an essential, self-soothing regulatory system that operates independently of any social context.
Based on the passages, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the claim in Text 1 that the primary evolutionary function of crying is 'strictly interpersonal'?
- By arguing that this claim overlooks the physiological benefits of crying that occur even when an individual is alone.Answer
- BBy disputing the idea that crying serves to signal vulnerability and downregulate aggression within social groups.
- CBy suggesting that the chemical signals in tears are primarily used to deter predators rather than to recruit support.
- DBy asserting that infants do not rely on shedding tears to elicit caregiving behaviors from adults.