Did you know men and women generally have different stress responses? This was not understood until the 1990s when Taylor et al (2000) revealed that the original fight flight stress response studies were conducted only on men. In that era women were prohibited from participating in psychological studies. When Taylor et al (2000) included women in their sample they found that men and women respond to stress differently and that this is hardwired, going back to cave-person days.
Taylor et al (2000) found that whilst men do indeed have a fight flight response, women tend and befriend. Men went hunting or into battle and when they came across a threat they survived because of the biological response that initiates a fight or flee action. Women on the other hand were generally around the camp fire or the home base caring for sick or injured men, children and the elderly and may be pregnant. Their response to risk was more socially focused and involved communication with others to protect and keep the home fires burning while the men were out hunting.
Although life on Earth has changed significantly over the eons, these differences are still relevant today.
We here at Mens Toolbox acknowledge the differences in the stress response of men and women. Therefore, we believe a gender specific approach to treating stress is required.