Abstract
There are many differences between males and females other than their reproductive organs. These differences include: structure and function of the brain, processing information, communication, and learning styles. This paper discusses the differences between women’s brains and men’s brains and whether these differences affect the way they think. Studies have shown that men’s brains are larger than women’s brain. Does a larger brain mean a smarter person?
Everyone knows that men and women look and act different. However, there are many differences between males and females other than looks. These differences include: structure and function of the brain, ways of processing information, communication, and learning styles. For years, doctors and psychologist have been studying the differences between the brains of men and women and looking into how their brains work. In this paper, I will be discussing the differences between women’s brains and men’s brains and whether these differences affect the way they think.
The article, “His and Her Brain?” in Hockenbury’s textbook, the study did not provide enough information to support a difference between the differences in brain size between genders. The study suggests that male and female brains are different before birth and continue to develop in different ways throughout life. In addition, the study discusses three fundamental differences between men’s and women’s brains. First, men’s brains are larger than women’s brains because men’s skulls are larger. At birth, the female brain is slightly smaller than a male brain, with fewer brain cells and less brain tissue. This doesn’t imply anything about male or female intelligence. Second, women have much larger proportion of gray matter in their brain than men. In women’s brain, the neuron cell bodies and dendrites that make up gray matter are tightly packed so that they are denser. Men have more gray matter in left hemisphere than in their right hemisphere. Women have equal amounts of white and gray matter in both left and right hemispheres. Third, certain parts of the males and females brain were different sizes. In women, the two hemispheres of the brain look alike. In men, they are asymmetrical. Studies also have shown that problem solving tasks in female brains are handled by both side of the brain, while the male brain only uses one small area of the left brain.
Another article related to this topic, “Girl Brain and Boy Brain?” The article proposes that there are differences in male and female brains causing unlike cognitive abilities and behavior. The study reports that both sexes experiences differences in problem solving. For example, women out-perform men in recalling landmarks when driving. Women also excel on cognition tasks involving processing and interpreting social information. Men perform better than women on certain spatial tasks. Men and women show differences in behavior because their brains are physically different organs. In addition, the brain and emotions differ built in both men and women; therefore, the brain processes information in different ways. This explains why women cannot think like men. The studies debate three important points’ in sex differences. First, the study shows that men’s brains are 10 percent larger than women brains. The size of different parts of the brain can be affected by childhood experiences. Second, men and women’s behavior differences can be biological without being hard-wired. Third, the size of the straight gyrus (SG) correlates with use of social cognition. The study finds that in adults and girls, smaller SG volumes significantly correlated with better social perception and higher identification with feminine qualities. The study also finds that in adults, the SG is slightly smaller in girls than boys. This shows that brain structure is not a matter of being a man or a woman.
Not many people know that men and women have slightly different brains sizes. According to “Girl Brain, Boy Brain”, men’s brains are 10 percent larger than women. The difference between the male and female brains is not due to any particular brain structure, but rather to the sequence of development of the various brain regions. For this reason, men and women process and interpret information differently. For example, men are different from women in the way they use language to communicate. Language and communication matter more to women than to men: Women are more verbal than men. A men's goal in using language is to get things done, while a women's goal is to make connections with other people. This shows that a bigger brain doesn’t necessarily mean a smarter person.
Not only are men and women fundamentally different in the way their brains are wired, they also differ in physical strength and patience. Everyone is aware that people have different intellectual strengths: some are good with words and others are good at fixing things. The female brain is mainly hard-wired for empathy. The male brain is primarily hard-wired for understanding and building systems. The brains of men and women are actually wired differently. The study failed to present whether there is any other difference beside anatomically features. The study also failed to mention whether hormonal differences influence behaviors and attitudes within the brain.
The influence of gender differences begins very early in life. We'll examine whether these different brain structures are established during prenatal development or whether they are shaped by the environment. Women are more emotional and more sensitive than men. Women are more comfortable with communicating while men are more comfortable to share any physical sport activities and competition. Girls tend to focus on feelings and boys tend to focus on actions. This is a stereotype.
The title of both articles immediately caught the readers’ attention. The word “Brain” makes readers curious in wanting to understand how the brain works.
These articles target people who are looking for answer about the brains. The article is also targeting men, women, doctors, patients, etc. If readers are women and having a hard time understanding their male co-workers or brother’s behavior, then they will want to read these articles. Because they believe that these article will help them find a solution to their problems. After reading this sentence “Do the brains of men and women differ?” from the first paragraph of the article, “His and Her Brain?” readers will want to read the rest of the article to find the answer for this question.
Both articles did share some research results on the differences between a man’s brain and a woman’s brain. For example, men brains are larger than women brain. Women are more verbal than men. These differences convince readers to search further for more answers. Event though, the authors of both articles provided information regarding the studies used. There are no statistics or data to supporting their opinions about the brain.
A picture of a young lady with electric wire connected to her forehead in the article, “His and Her Brains?” immediately attracted my attention and made me curious to learn more about this article. This image was very useful and worked well with the title of the article. If there are no pictures informing readers about human brain, then readers may not be interested in reading the article. This shows that a picture is worth a thousand words.
In conclusion, these articles on human brain show us there are significant differences in the size, shape and uses of the brain between females and males. However, more research needs to be conducted in these areas until we have concrete evidence to support the claim that men’s and women’s brains differ. Also we have to be careful and not jump to any conclusions based on small studies data and assume they are producing the same results. This theory could be used to reinforce stereotypes.
Reference:
Hockenbury, D.H. & Hockenbury, S.E. (2001).Discovering Psychology (5th ed.) New York: Worth.
Eliot, L. (2009, September 08). Girl Brain, Boy Brain?. Scientific American. Retrieved September 05, 2011, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=girl-brain-boy-brain
