By letting the world see his emotions, Justin Bieber is communicating a crucial message to males.
The message is that it’s acceptable to weep, which psychology experts have stated is critical knowledge for men to have, particularly when it comes to building enduring relationships and improving their general well-being.
According to Sapna Cheryan, a social psychology professor at the University of Washington, “people tend to have certain expectations for what behaviors are typical and expected of men and women in U.S. society,” as previously reported by USA TODAY. It is expected of women, not men, to be the nurturers and caregivers. When someone goes against these expectations, it might come as a shock and attract notice.”
Bieber disproves the myth that “men don’t cry.”
Bieber shared a number of images on Instagram on Sunday, some of which included him performing live. However, two of the images were selfies in which he was clearly crying. The musician did not explain the reason behind his tears or the background to the pictures.
Fans rushed to voice their concerns in the comment area after seeing him cry, which prompted a lot of angry emotions. Hailey Bieber, the singer’s wife, expressed support as well, referring to her husband as “a pretty crier.”
Some of Bieber’s followers were taken aback by the tearful pictures, but they shouldn’t be astonished. Ultimately, perceptions of masculinity are evolving, and with it, society’s acceptance of males who express similar emotions.
Watching classic “manly men” weep, such elite players like Travis and Jason Kelce, for example, teaches us that emotions don’t discriminate based on sex or gender, according to Benjamin Calixte, founder of Therapy For Black Men.
According to Calixte, “men are expressing their emotions more than ever.” “The trope of ‘men don’t cry’ is a thing of the past, which is a complete paradigm shift.”
More: In an effort to recover their masculinity, men are attending harsh boot camps. How did we arrive at this location?
What advantages does crying have?
Furthermore, crying is healthy for everyone, regardless of gender or sex.
According to studies, crying triggers the parasympathetic nerve system, which helps people transition from the “fight or flight” response to the “rest and digest” response. Additionally, crying generates feel-good hormones that lessen stress and soothe pain. Researchers have proposed that breathing in chilly air rhythmically while crying may have “mood-improving effects.”
Because it can generate empathy and social support from others, sobbing is often most beneficial when it’s personally significant or relevant, according to Lauren Bylsma, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and expert on the impacts of crying. (Some scholars have proposed that by promoting bonding, crying shielded our ancestors from violence in their groups.)
Because it “forces the person to focus on the situation that induced the tears, which may lead to a new understanding and facilitate processing of emotions or lead to some solution,” Bylsma claimed that crying on its own is particularly effective.
There is a loneliness crisis among men. Weeping over it might be beneficial.
Experts suggest that men are more prone than ever to be lonely because they are reluctant to express their feelings.
In a Survey Center on American Life survey from 2021, 41% of women and just 21% of males reported having gotten emotional assistance from a friend in the previous week. Compared to 49% of women, just 25% of males indicated they had told a friend they loved them in the last week.
According to Ronald Levant, an emeritus psychology professor at The University of Akron and co-author of “The Tough Standard: The Hard Truths about Masculinity and Violence,” many men experience loneliness because they find it difficult to express their feelings in words. “The inability to put their emotions into words leads to failures in relationships, (which) leads to loneliness.”
Levant asserted that accepting your emotions and expressing them to those you care about is a critical first step toward conquering loneliness. After all, when men give voice to their feelings, he says, their relationships tend to improve.