It wasn’t so long ago—maybe 10-15 years—that the field of psychotherapy believed that the fundamental differences between men and women were primarily a result of social conditioning. But as neuroscience has become more and more prevalent in the study of mental health and development, it has also brought to light many misconceptions we have about gender differences.
While some gender-specific behaviors are learned as a child grows up, Louann Brizendine—author of The Female Brain and The Male Brain—says that we are all born with brains that are already hardwired with certain male or female characteristics.
Watch this brief clip to hear her talk about one of the key neurobiological distinctions between the sexes: the need to reproduce vs. the need to nurture the helpless.
Rich Simon
Richard Simon, PhD, founded Psychotherapy Networker and served as the editor for more than 40 years. He received every major magazine industry honor, including the National Magazine Award. Rich passed away November 2020, and we honor his memory and contributions to the field every day.
