Tears: A Natural Aggression Reducer for Men

Human tears contain a substance that reduces aggression, according to a study by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Sniffing emotional tears from women reduced male aggression by over 40% in computerized tests and led to changes in the brain. The researchers believe that tears may have evolved to protect vulnerable infants from harm. The study also found that tears activated smell-sensing neurons in humans, suggesting a response to the aggression-dampening substance. While the chemicals in tears may not have a significant impact on adult social interactions, they may play a role in protecting babies from aggression. The researchers aim to identify the active ingredient in tears for potential use in reducing aggressive tendencies.