The book ‘Why men don’t listen and why women can’t read maps’ by Allan & Barbara Pease gives us an insight into the psychological and biological factors that determine the decisions made by men and women.

It addressed ideas such as nature vs nurture suggesting that men and women are biologically different but the differences in the way they are treated from birth enhance the personality they develop in the future so not everything is predetermined. However, some biological factors such as women having two x chromosomes (XX) and men only having one (XY) mean that women can see more colour as the X chromosome is what sees colour.

Men are also scientifically better drivers with a parallel parking accuracy of 82% compared to women with only 22%. Suggesting that our brains work differently so it is important to try and find a way to understand each other.

The way women’s brains are wired has shown they are better with speech which is why there are more female teachers and therapists. This starting from an early age as at the age of three girls have almost twice the vocabulary of three-year-old boys, and this can’t be a coincidence.

A section of the book surrounds relationships and how there is three emotions in the brain: lust, infatuation and attachment that make up peoples view on love, and this could be a reason for around 50% of marriages ending in divorce. As well as 87% of men saying that work is the most important thing in their life.

This book contained many eye-opening facts and covered unusual concepts that I hadn’t thought about before and I think it is a great read that can spark an interest in a psychological topic without it being difficult to read.

By Anna F