Certainly Louann Brizendine raises several valuable facts regarding the biological developmental differences between male and female brains. For instance, she says we know female brains have larger communication centers than male brains. She explains that the brains are nearly identical until eight weeks old, at which point male brains kill off some cells in the communication center and develop cells in the aggression center. It certainly seems likely that there is some truth to this, but to say that this is the entire reason for our communicative differences seems a little harsh.
After all, Brenda Allen tells us that our social identity is a construct of social influences. From our earliest days of childhood we are immediately influenced by society: boys in blue and girls in pink. Growing up these pressures continue to affect us. Men are taught to be tough, independent and aggressive...the "strong-silent type." Women, on the other hand, are taught to be more communicative. They're told to share their feelings and to develop close relationships.
The rapport/report communication methods are certainly apparent, and there is a fairly clear divide between men and women. However, there are men that have rapport-style communication, and there are women using the report style. For this reason I would argue that these communicative differences start in the brain, but are perpetuated by society. I don't believe the brain dictates your communication style, but it certainly nudges it in one direction or the other.
Questions:
1. Why does this question have to be viewed in a this-or-that manner?
2. Is there a need to change communication styles to meet in the middle, or can we continue to have this rift in our language?
Q1: I wondered that as well because to me they have an impact each other, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteQ2: I think that we have been able to manage while communication with each other but it may be easier to understand each other better if there was less of a rift.
I completely agree with your first few comments, it is absurd to say that you can pick one side on this issue. There is not one final study that determines which is right and wrong, and until there is we shouldn't be judging how people act.
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