Men and Women Relax, Hear, and See Differently

see-and-hear.jpgI’m looking so forward to this weekend! It will be great to have so much family time, but I am sure my husband and I will get on each other’s nerves. To prepare, I read about men’s brains.

This information is taken from the book What Could He Be Thinking? by Michael Gurian. The book is based on 20 years of neurobiological research. The book is all about different chemicals and activity levels in parts of the male and female brains.

Why Husbands Tense Up When Wives Just Want to Talk
Women have 15% more blood flow and neural pathways to verbal-emotive brain centers than men. For this reason, having a conversation, especially one that inspires emotion, can increase oxytocin levels. Oxytocin makes the female brain feel relaxed and connected. However, it makes the male brain “wake up.”

When the male brain is in a restive state, most of its activity is centered in the brain stem. The brain stem does not connect well to the frontal lobes at the top of the brain–where the verbal-emotive processing goes on.

So, in a nutshell, after work, both males and females aim to relax. Talking helps women relax. But for men, conversation stimulates chemicals and parts of the brain to work, rather than to relax. How evil of nature.

Why Men Ignore Their Wives When They Get Home From Work
When men get home from work, they want to rest, just like women do. What does help the male brain enter a restive state? Fixing electronics and channel surfing. I’m serious.

Why Men Watch TV at Defeaning Volumes + Can’t See Stuff In the Fridge
Women’s brains take in more sensory data than men’s brains. So women see, hear, smell, and feel more strongly than men. So, this is why men need to watch the TV at FULL BLAST and why they can’t see stuff in the refrigerator when they’re staring right at it. Also why the many messes they make don’t bother them at all–their brains don’t take these visual details in as women’s brains do.

So, over this nice long weekend, I guess if I want my husband to relax, I need to try not to talk to him, encourage him to channel surf as he ignores me, and try to understand that he simply can’t see all of the messes he creates.

PS. On a serious note, does anyone know of an organization that benefits families of fallen soldiers? If so, please email me! Also, here is a touching site www.anysoldier.com–it tells how you can send a letter to service men and women who don’t often get mail but need it.

2 Responses to “Men and Women Relax, Hear, and See Differently”

  1. long time reader & lurker had to pop on here & give you these links. I am a proud wife (& mom to 4) whos husband is currently deployed for the gazillion-ith time.
    http://www.childrenoffallensoldiersrelieffund.org/
    http://www.fwsf.org
    http://www.ourfallensoldier.com/
    http://www.quietlyworking.org/

    & this one is a great place with alot of links to help find an organization or other ways to help.
    http://www.americasupportsyou.mil

  2. Hi Neka,

    Thank you so much for these links. Readers clicked on the one in the post so many times–I am sure these will get visits.

    Your situation really puts things into perspective. Especially dumb blogs like mine that make fun of husbands who wake up every day and go to a safe job. Hm. Food for thought.

    You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Holly

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