The Potential Importance of Physiological Soothing of the Male

“Gottman and Levenson (1988 ) hypothesized that this gender difference is based, in part, on a biological difference between the sexes. Their hypothesis was that men are in some ways more reactive to stress than women, particularly in the adrenergic parts of the cardiovascular system and in the stress-realated endocrine responses that accompany active coping, particularly the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenalin (Obrist, 1981). There is some evidence to suggest that this difference is found physiologically (in the autonomic nervous system and endocrine responses) and in emotion-related behaviors. (For a review, see Polefrone & Manuck,1987.) Recent evidence suggest that this gender differences may be particularly pronounced in the vigilance-startle system (McCarter & Levenson, 1996) and that there is a greater male adrenergic-cardio vascular response to acoustic startling in terms of the reactivity of the heart rate and vasoconstrictive responses.

Because of the aversive nature of diffuse autonomic arousal, men may attempt to avoid negative affect in close relationships because it is more physiologically punishing for them than for women.”

Gottman, J. (1998 ) Predicting marital happiness and stability from newlywed interactions. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 5-22.