Testosterone vs. Oxytocin

Watch Video: Testosterone vs. Oxytocin by Michael Gurian, MFA, CMHC, ...
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Testosterone vs. Oxytocin

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Testosterone, it's all over the news. You've heard about it on the news. You probably know all about it yourself. It's a very important thing. If you are raising sons or daughters, it's just crucial. It's a sex and aggression chemical, and we get hit with a lot of it as males. We get hit with a lot of it at puberty, through adolescence, and throughout life; until we get older. So this is going to tend to make boys behave in ways that are surprising to us. I want to look at it from three angles. Just the hormone itself can make some boys physically more aggressive. Two, the hormone reacts with the brain, it washes through the brain and shuts off other parts of the brain. So you say, why didn't you think about that? Well, he got hit with hormones and it shut off the front part of the brain and he wasn't thinking. He wasn't thinking for that short period of time, for which he can do bad things. The third thing is that, when we compare that to girls; we say, why do girls seem calmer? Yes, certainly, they are more dramatic in their anger and they are more verbal about it; but they are not as physical and wreck as many cars. Girls also get hit with something called Oxytocin, and that's a bonding chemical. That tends to calm them down in some ways; but males don't get hit with as much of that. So they are really getting hit with this sex and aggression chemical. When you see boys doing things that you think is a little nuts, take a look at testosterone. Study it, if you don't know a lot about it, because it is a key in male development.

Watch Video: Testosterone vs. Oxytocin by Michael Gurian, MFA, CMHC, ...

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Michael Gurian, MFA, CMHC

Family Counselor & Author

Michael Gurian is the New York Times bestselling author of 25 books published in 21 languages. He provides counseling services at the Marycliff Center, in Spokane, Washington. The Gurian Institute, which he co-founded, conducts research internationally, launches pilot programs and trains professionals. Michael has been called "the people's philosopher" for his ability to bring together people's ordinary lives and scientific ideas.

 He has pioneered efforts to bring neuro-biology and brain research into homes, schools, corporations, and public policy. A number of his books have sparked national debate, including The Wonder of Girls, The Wonder of Boys, and Boys and Girls Learn Differently!, and The Minds of Boys.



Michael has served as a consultant to families, corporations, therapists, physicians, school districts, community agencies, churches, criminal justice personnel and other professionals, traveling to approximately 20 cities per year to keynote at conferences. His training videos (also available as DVDs) for parents and volunteers are used by Big Brother and Big Sister agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

 As an educator, Michael previously taught at Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, and Ankara University.  His speaking engagements include Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Macalester College, University of Colorado, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and UCLA. His philosophy reflects the diverse cultures (European, Asian, Middle Eastern and American) in which he has lived, worked and studied.

Michael's work has been featured in various media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, People Magazine, Reader's Digest, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, PBS and National Public Radio.

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