The Male Brain

Louann Brizendine studierte Neurobiologie an der University of California in Berkeley, der Yale und Harvard University und dem University College in London. Heute ist sie Professorin für Neuropsychiatrie an der University of California in San Francisco. Sie ist Gründerin und Leiterin der Women s and Teen Girls Mood and Hormone Clinic und lebt mit ihrem Mann und ihrem Sohn in San Francisco.

"In this utterly fascinating follow-up to her bestselling The Female Brain , Harvard neuropsychiatrist Brizendine leads readers through the lifespan of a man's brain, using lively prose and personable anecdotes to turn complex scientific research into a highly accessible romp. Among other salient info, readers will learn why it is what young boys seem unable to stay still (they are learning through "embodied cognition"); why behaviors may change so suddenly during puberty (among other changes, testosterone increases 20-fold); the nature of irritability in teens ("boys' hormones prime them for aggressive and territorial behaviors"); and the ways in which chemicals, physical touch, and play bond fathers with their children. With clearly detailed scientific explanations for how characteristics like anger expression, analysis of facial expression, and spatial manipulation differ between the sexes, Brizendine's review of brain and behavioral research should net a broad audience, from parents of boys to psychology students to fans of her first volume. Brizendine also includes an appendix regarding the brain and sexual orientation, as well as lengthy endnotes and an exhaustive reference list."-- Publishers Weekly , Starred Review

"As a woman who has known complicated men her whole life, I can't help but wish The Male Brain had been around when I was a girl. Dr. Louann Brizendine's lucid, lively, and always fascinating discussion of how the male brain works (and why) has enlightened me in more ways than I can count. Now I can't wait to give the book to all my women friends."
-Jane Fonda, actress and author of My Life So Far

"Dr. Brizendine has marshaled a host of impressive data and insights and presented them in an elegant and entertaining way to clearly illustrate men's reality--as infants, boys, teens, lovers, husbands, fathers and workers. It's a deep dive into the worlds of men, as well as a fascinating read. And along the way, you will pick up some valuable tips to help you understand, appreciate and connect with the men in your life."
--Helen Fisher, Ph.D., author of Why Him? Why Her?

"It takes an extraordinary woman like Dr. Louann Brizendine to understand the male brain. She brings the latest in state-of-the-art science in helping us to understand the most ancient and primal of male passions and desires--and viva le difference! Highly recommended."
-Dean Ornish, author of The Spectrum

"The remarkable brain science behind Mars and Venus in a really enjoyable read! I think that this book, along with The Female Brain should be read by every parent, child, husband, wife, employer, employee, and dating age adult - they bring love and understanding into our most important, and sometimes most frustrating relationships."
-Martin L. Rossman, M.D., Clinical Faculty, UCSF; Founder, TheHealingMind.org, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

From the Hardcover edition.

C O N T E N T S INTRODUCTION: What Makes a Man ONE: The Boy Brain TWO: The Teen Boy Brain THREE: The Mating Brain: Love and Lust FOUR: The Brain Below the Belt FIVE: The Daddy Brain SIX: Manhood: The Emotional Lives of Men SEVEN: The Mature Male Brain EPILOGUE: The Future of the Male Brain APPENDIX: The Male Brain and Sexual Orientation Excerpt from Chapter Two: The Teen Boy Brain "TURN OFF your computer now, Jake! No gaming until that homework is done!" shrieked Jake's mother as she pounded on his bedroom door. Opening the door a crack, Jake gave her a blank stare and grumbled something under his breath before shutting the door in her face. Kate knew he'd probably turn the computer back on without the volume. But what she didn't know was that free porn sites were beginning to be more enticing to him than the war games he played online with his buddies. Kate was a patient of mine, and up until this past year, she'd described her relationship with Jake as close and rewarding. But when her formerly happy and cooperative son turned fourteen, he became sullen and irritable. Struggle, struggle, struggle is all they seemed to do these days. When Kate and her husband, Dan, found out that Jake hadn't turned in a single English assignment in weeks, they worried that he might be drinking or experimenting with drugs. That's when they scheduled a family appointment with me. During our session, Jake stared out the window and Dan listened politely as Kate wrenchingly complained that their son had suddenly become unreachable and secretive. Not only had Jake gotten into a fight with another freshman, named Dylan, but he also had a new group of friends, including a girl named Zoe whom Kate described as "fast." Dan spoke up in disagreement, saying, "I'm not too worried about the fight or Jake's new friends. But I do expect Jake to keep his grades up." Meanwhile, Jake, with his curly brown hair and long, lanky limbs, see med dazed and oblivious to his parents' worries about him. When I turned and asked him, "What do you think of your parents' concerns?" he merely shrugged. It was clear that Jake, like most teens, wasn't going to say much of anything in front of his parents, so I suggested that he come in for a private session the following week. Since my own teen son had recently left for college after four long years of high school, I had a pretty good idea what Jake and his parents were going through. No matter how harmonious a boy's childhood has been, puberty can change everything. This stage of child development requires that delicate parental maneuver of becoming disengaged without disengaging. Kate said she felt as if the Jake she knew had disappeared, and in some ways he had. Scientists have discovered that the teen brain in both sexes is distinctly different from the preadolescent brain. The changes that were becoming obvious in Jake were set in motion by his genes and hormones while he was still in utero. Now, with the end of the juvenile pause, it was time for Jake to ramp up his skills for surviving in a man's world. And he was ready and eager, even if his mother wasn't. At this stage, the millions of little androgen switches, or receptors, in his brain are hungrily awaiting the arrival of testosterone- king of the male hormones. As the floodgates are flung wide open, the juice of manhood saturates his body and his brain. When my own son turned fourteen and became moody and irritable, I remember thinking, "Oh my God, soon the testosterone will take him over mind, body, and soul." TESTOSTERONE TSUNAMI Although Kate worried that Jake's behavior was extreme, I assured her that he was no different from many other boys his age. At fourteen, Jake's brain would have already been under reconstruction for a few years. Between the ages of nine and fifteen, his male brai