Excerpts from my book (in progress)
This “hydraulic” theory of emotions, this notion that tears represent something that is bottled up and has pressure and needs to be released,
has been pretty thoroughly discredited by modern science.
At worst it’s a wives’ tale or pop psychology, and at best it’s Freudian catharsis —
all interesting to study as myths, but not backed up by real science.
People feel sad sometimes. If they feel sufficiently sad, there are tears.
But you may find that the old advice to “let it out” makes no difference in how you feel.
Intense emotions fade on their own — unless continuously re-aggravated.
If you’d like to reduce the intensity of the emotions, I know a more reliable way:
Avoid people who deliberately give you stress.
— J. E. Brown
3rd edition 04 Sep 2014
2nd edition 28 Jun 2006
1st edition 11 May 2006
about the author
J. E. Brown, relationship activist and writer, has decided that verbal abuse will be wiped off the planet.
While writing a book on relationships, he occasionally designs online surveys and writes materials for this relationship education website.
Further Reading at Other Sites
- Sad in Webster’s Dictionary
Concepts:
definition of sadness, definition of sad, what does sadness mean, define sadness, what is sadness, defination, deffinition, difinition
More at This Site
- Is there a booklet of manners in your house?
We offer this one:
How Rude! -- a booklet about rude and abusive people, and how to recognize them
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