Tears do help get what you want, most times.
In deed, even complaining loudly often helps you get what you want. People eventually give in if you keep pestering them over and over again and won't give up. I have personally either observed or experienced this myself many times, both in one position and the other. I am softened by tears in particular.
When playing cards or board games, I sometimes have a strategy - not even consciously - of loudly lamenting my card misfortune and constantly complain about the cursed cards or unfair moves as the game progresses, which softens the other person and he grants me advantages that he would not otherwise have granted me had I remained composed. HaHa!!!
There are differences of course, some days I play to my hand without any regrets and win and lose easily. Whenever I become a child at the game, it takes its toll on my fellow players. They usually become more forgiving the more they are penetrated. Of course, this only works if you don't meet a similar childish teammate. If that one manages to surpass you even more, the roles will swap. I then let the other one go first, because he doesn't seem to be able to take his misfortune in a sporting way at that moment. So it's a back and forth of emotions and role reversals.
The world will be a better place when one has to admit their wrongs rather than pretend they don't exist.
If this is done voluntarily, much is gained. Under coercion, it is much more difficult.
Lies are gonna have to step up their game to get by in a world where everything is recorded by the panopticon.
The Panopticon is world-class at recording, but as long as it is the human being who has to laboriously wade through the concatenations of actions and statements, the confusion will remain. I mean not to suggest that the automatic detection of lies or discrepancies by machines would be better. On the whole, I don't think much of taking events out of the box, because it involves an effort that is often not worth the trouble of dealing with it. It usually makes people grumpy. Anyone who doesn't become grumpy and ill-tempered in the process, I would gladly give such tasks to. I just don't know anyone.
I'd think emotional reactions might diminish, too.
I don't think they will diminish, though. For above reasons (role changing). You are not always playing one character, aren't you?