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Co-regulation of stress in uterus and during early infancy mediates early programming of gender differences in attachment styles: Evolutionary, genetic, and endocrinal perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Sari Goldstein Ferber
Sari Goldstein Ferber
Affiliation:
Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032; Department of Neonatology, Wolfson Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, and Department of Neurobiochemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 58100, Israel. [email protected]
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Abstract

According to evolutionary, genetic, and endocrinal perspectives, gender differences are modulated by the interaction between intra-uterine stress, genetic equipments, and the availability of the facilitating environment during the newborn period. The social message of fitness over obstacles during socialization and the discussion of secure/non-secure attachment styles should take into consideration the brain functions, which are altered differently in response to intra- and extra-uterine stress in each gender.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 2009 , pp. 29 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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