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Why Men Don't Cry—at Least Not As Much


Women cry far more often than men: 5.3 times per month on average, versus men's 1.4, according to research by neuroscientist William Frey. Cultural factors are certainly at work—while little boys cry as often as little girls, we know that boys aren't exactly celebrated for their emotional facility. But there are biological explanations as well. When puberty hits and hormones (testosterone in men, prolactin in women) start to flood the body, tear glands begin to develop differently between the sexes, says Frey. As a result, a man and a woman may experience the same level of emotion, but a man's body is less likely to produce tears.

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