Who Likes to Talk About Emotions?

Well obviously not men. And while this can be incredibly frustrating for all us women, there are some pretty good reasons for it.

For starters our brains are configured differently. Women are geared for chatting and maintaining relationships while doing the gathering part of hunter gatherer. We’re usually the main caregivers for children so we need to be more emotionally attuned. We also release more oxytocin than men so we get the feel good from connecting more readily.

Men are more geared for action. It did not help one bit if they got all overwhelmed by emotions while out hunting a mammoth. Men had to push emotions aside to not wind up mammoth road kill.

Not only that. Men get more physiologically aroused by emotion than women do. And their best defense is to leave to be able to calm down. In an intense emotional event a man’s blood pressure will rise dramatically and take ages to return to normal. So it’s really best to let him leave a heated situation and settle for a bit before returning to the topic so his head doesn’t explode.

And while you’re at it, don’t be upset when he tries to solve your problems for you when all you want to do is talk. That’s just how men roll. Let him know that the best solution is a big hug and supportive (word-free) noises.