Louann Brizendine, a neuropsychiatrist and author, discusses the biology behind male behavior. She explains how the male brain is wired differently from the female brain due to testosterone exposure in the womb and during puberty. She also explores the impact of testosterone on male behavior during love, fatherhood, and aging. This podcast provides insights into the male brain and offers a guide to understanding why men act the way they do.
Gender differences are rooted in biology with approximately 50% attributable to brain formation in utero and the impact of testosterone during development.
Testosterone plays a significant role in shaping male behavior, from childhood socialization and play preferences to intense bonding and caregiving behaviors as fathers.
Deep dives
Gender differences rooted in biology
Gender differences are not solely products of socialization but are rooted in biology. About 50% of the differences between men and women can be attributed to biological factors, particularly the formation of the brain in utero. Testosterone plays a significant role in the development and wiring of the male brain, influencing how boys socialize and learn during childhood. The male brain undergoes restructuring with another surge of testosterone during puberty, impacting teen behavior. When males fall in love, their brains are flooded with dopamine and oxytocin, leading to intense bonding and a different perception of reality. Additionally, when men become fathers, testosterone levels decrease, while the hormone prolactin increases to support nurturing and caregiving behaviors.
Differences in childhood socialization and play
Boys and girls exhibit differences in play preferences and socialization during childhood. Boys tend to engage in hierarchical play, establishing pecking orders and hierarchies more quickly than girls. They also prefer playing with toys that involve movement and action. On the other hand, girls tend to engage in more role-playing games and enjoy activities that focus on relationships. These differences in play and socialization are influenced by a combination of biological factors, such as testosterone levels, and cultural influences.
The impact of testosterone and brain development during puberty
During puberty, the male brain undergoes significant changes due to surges in testosterone. These changes are responsible for shaping male behavior and play a role in sexual attraction. Testosterone primes the male brain to seek out fertile females and engage in mating. There is a heightened awareness of sexual stimuli, which can lead to intense infatuation and feelings of being 'head over heels' in love. The surge in testosterone also contributes to the development of male physical features, deeper voices, and hair growth.
Adulthood and the gradual decline of testosterone
In adulthood, testosterone levels gradually decline in men. This decline typically begins around age 30 and continues at a rate of 1-3% per year. Despite the decrease in testosterone, men still maintain muscle strength, energy, and some sex drive. This period is often characterized by a mellowing out of behavior, reduced aggression, and a shift towards a more nurturing and mentorship-oriented role. It is a stage marked by the generative aspects of life and the desire to leave a legacy.
There’s a common argument out there that gender differences are just the product of socialization. Implicitly and explicitly, the argument goes, culture tells men and women how men and women should behave.
My guest todayargues that the drivers of male and female behavior are little more complex than that. In fact, about 50% of the differences between men and women are rooted in our biology, beginning with how our respective brains form in utero.
Her name is Louann Brizendine. She’s a neuropsychiatrist, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of two books: The Female Brainand The Male Brain. Today we discuss that latter work, and the trajectory the male brain takes from prenatal life through old age.
We begin our conversation discussing how a megadose of testosterone in the womb wires a male brain differently from a female brain and how that influences how boys socialize and learn during childhood. Louann then discusses how the male brain is re-structured again with another megadose of testosterone during puberty and the impact that has on a teen's behavior. She then walks us through what happens to the male brain when a man falls in love, has kids, and enters mature adulthood.
Consider this podcast an intro guide to how your brain works (assuming you’re a dude listening to this, though female listeners will also get some insights into why the males in their lives act the way they do).
