THE EXPERTS AT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal - Diversity - Creativity - Leadership

Brain/ Gender Studies
& the Mars Venus Approach

In this very brief article, we will go over some the latest findings in scientific research that demonstrate the biological basis for the distinctions that Dr Gray has been describing for the last 10 years. The intent of this article is to underscore that importance of accepting and embracing these naturally occurring differences. After all if they are good enough for natural selection, perhaps there is a point to them that we should embrace.

Women relieve stress by talking with other about feelings

Men relieve stress by not talking about feelings and going into the cave

Current research has demonstrated that females, on average, have a larger deep limbic system than males. Women are more in touch with their feelings. They are generally better able to express their feelings than men.

A landmark UCLA study suggests that women respond to stress with a cascade of brain chemicals that cause women to make and maintain friendships with other women. It's a stunning finding that has turned five decades of stress research-most of it on men-upside down.

Scientists had generally believed that when people experience stress, they trigger a hormonal cascade that moves the body to either stand and fight or flee as fast as possible. It's an ancient survival mechanism left over from the time we were chased across the planet by saber-toothed tigers. Now the researchers suspect that women have a larger behavioral repertoire than just "fight or flight."

When the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress response in a woman, it buffers the "fight or flight" response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women instead. When she actually engages in this tending or befriending, studies suggest that more oxytocin is released, which further counters stress and produces a calming effect.

This calming response does not occur in men, because testosterone, which men produce in high levels when they're under stress, seems to reduce the effects of oxytocin. Estrogen seems to enhance it.

Under Stress Men Focus

Under stress Women Expand

Men tend to look for the most linear straight approach (Get right to the point). Women tend to see things as much more interconnected and therefore do not get right to the point because they see many points.

Pet Scan studies of how men and women process information differently shows that while male and female brains perform equally well woman use areas on the right and left of the brain, while men use only areas on the left side

Martian culture values logic over feeling.

Venusian Culture values feelings.

Testosterone is mildly damaging to the nerve fibers in the corpus collosum in baby boys. The connecting link between both halves of the brain in baby girls is left totally intact. Boy babies have a little less working connective nerve fiber between the two sides of the brain because of the presence of testosterone as the brain develops.

The right half of the brain is more responsible for emotions. The left half of the brain is more responsible for logic. Women have equal access to both halves. Men seem to be generally more 'left-brained.

Martian Problem Solving strategy is based on individual differentiation of tasks.
Martian brain is evolutionarily selected to be more specialized and lateralized toward the left hemisphere.

Venusian Problem Solving Approach based on interactional collaborative approach
Venusian brain is evolutionarily selected to be less specialized and more interactional and collaborative between left and right hemispheres. There are also 40% more interconnections betweens neurons in the female brain.

For more information E-mail Dr Schwarz at Bob@MarsVenusatWork.com
or call 610-642-0884



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