The Male Brain

As a sociologist, I have always been fascinated by the nature vs. nurture debate. My sociology sometimes seems to be at odds with my biblical worldview. I believe that we are created in the image of God - that He made us uniquely male and female. I also believe that our culture imposes strong norms on our behavior, especially our gendered behavior. Separating the influence of society from our biological impulses can be a daunting task. I choose the title of this blog, Gendered Reality, because I believe that those influences (both nature and nurture) create entirely different worlds for someone born a woman versus someone born male. The reality is, gender makes a difference. So I am fascinated by the study of scientific research that documents either nature or nurture. This week a new book has been released by Louann Brizendine entitled The Male Brain. This is a follow up of her first title, The Female Brain and continues her research on the biological differences in the structure and functioning of the human brain. She states in her book:

The vast new body of brain science together with the work I've done with my male patients has convinced me that through every phase of life, the unique brain structures and hormones of boys and men create a "male reality" that is fundamentally different from the female one, and all too frequently oversimplified and misunderstood.

We are entering an era, finally, when both men and women can begin to understand their distinct biology and how it affects their lives. If we know how a biological brain state is guiding our impulses, we can choose how to act, or not act at all, rather than merely following our compulsions. If you're a man, this knowledge not only can help you understand and harness your unique male brain power, but it can also help you to understand your sons, your father and the other men in your life. If you're a woman, this book will help you to interpret and comprehend the intricacies of the male brain. With that new information, you can help your sons and husbands to be truer to their nature and perhaps you can feel more compassionate toward your father.

I will be purchasing this book and digging deeper into the classic debate between biology and sociology. If you are also interested in this topic, you can read an excerpt of the book at the GMA website.