This reaction may alert people to your emotional sensitivity and eventually prompt the production of extra hormones to calm your body down. These tears may also be a result of decreased blood flow to the face or even pain caused by an irritant in your eye. Boys are more likely to cry when they're embarrassed because of the social stigma surrounding the behavior. The more socially acceptable a person is, the less likely he or she is to cry, according to research done by Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada. Social acceptance can lead to greater self-confidence and control over one's environment which, in turn, can cause boys to suppress their emotions rather than express them. For example, if a boy is afraid to ask someone out on a date because he thinks it will make him look weak, he might instead end up breaking down crying before the subject even arises. This response is a form of emotion suppression - he is trying to avoid something that would make him feel bad. The fact that boys are expected to keep things under control shows how important it is for them to appear strong. If they showed any sign of weakness, it could scare off potential partners. Thus, the only way for them to attract attention is by demonstrating how tough they are by not crying.