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Everyone knows of at least one movie that makes them cry, but what is it about these films that brings us to tears? Despite what they'd have you believe men and women will both cry at movies, but the movies they cry at and the reasons that they are moved to tears may be different.

Psychologically women have a closer attachment to issues regarding female relationships and interaction, which may reflect their own relationships with their mother, sister, friends, etc. Women also have a connection with stories about women who are wronged, or even more so the loss or death of an important man in their lives. Story lines that move women to tears often involve the loss of love from a relationship ending, or a fatal illness. Tear jerkers for women also often involve dramas that surround a group of strong willed women who are dysfunctional and deal with emotional and combative problems between each other, usually depicted in sister/sister or mother/daughter situations.

Examples are:
Steel Magnolias Starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton
The story of a dysfunctional family of sisters and their mother. Their emotional battles and want for acceptance form each other.
Bambi Starring John Sutherland
The Disney classic. The story of young Bambi's survival on his own after his mother is shot by hunters.
Terms of Endearment Starring Shirley Maclaine, Jack Nicholson
A mother and daughter disagree on everything, especially how they live their lives.
Ever After Starring Drew Barrymore
A peasant girl creates a fake identity of a noble woman, only to have a prince fall in love with her. The romance falls apart when he discovers her lies.
The Notebook - Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner
A love story that spans decades. The story of a young couple who break up and can't seem to get it together and both lead empty lives until they come together once more.

For the most part men do cry at movies, but may cry less, often due to a need to be tough or "macho". In most cases men will have different psychological connections with stories than women. Most often men are emotionally attached to stories that depict father/son, brother/brother, or man/dog relationships. An emotional story using or blending these elements is a recipe for a situation where even macho men can't stop the tears. The most common tear jerker for men is the father/son relationship. This relationship being dysfunctional or involving an emotional death of either member is the ideal setting for man tears.

Examples

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