Picture this: you are sitting in a dark movie theater with your friends or family sitting around you.
By this time in the movie, you have become attached to your favorite characters, and all is going well. Then, out of nowhere, BAM! All of a sudden, you hear a gunshot and your favorite character is dead! As hard as you try, there is no stopping the embarrassing waterfall escaping from your eyes. You look around only to see the people who know you best staring at you and stifling their laughter because they know you are the one who cries during movies.
If this describes you, then you are not alone. At least 92% of moviegoers have cried during at least one movie, including myself. Fortunately, crying at the movies is a natural phenomenon and can be good for you. So, why do we cry in movies?
1. Our brains.
One reason for being emotional during movies involves your physical brain. Oxytocin is the chemical that engages our happiness and generosity. It controls our empathy and can be activated even at the slightest sign that a person wishes to connect with us. Oxytocin actually cannot always differentiate between reality and, in turn, fictional characters.
2. We are emotionally strong.
The next reason why people cry during movies is because they are emotionally strong. It is an emotional connection that people have with the characters of the movies that makes people cry. People who can put themselves in the shoes of other people tend to be mentally stronger. In the words of The Earth Child, "You're strong enough to be strong for others." You can see and feel situations through the eyes of those living in them, even if they are fictional. That is a beautiful thing.
3. Empathy.
Empathy keeps us generous. People who are empathetic with fictional characters are also more empathetic with others in a similar way. The reason that people go on service trips or join the Peace Corps is because we can put ourselves in the shoes of others and realize how horrible some situations are. For example, there are many Americans who have never starved. However, people do not need to starve to know hunger or the horribleness of living without food access.
Movie crying is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. It is a sign that you are willing to relate to other people on an emotional level, which can be great for relationships and for helping others. So, the next time you are at the theater and start crying, own it. Remember: empathy can change the world!
Sources: http://anonhq.com/people-cry-watching-movies-stron... and https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moral-mol...
