Have you ever wondered about the differences between male and female communication? Allan and Barbara Pease have been studying this subject for many years. It would seem that if you are a woman you communicate to form a bond or friendship with people, and understand how good your relationship is with them.
If you are a man you communicate to transmit and receive facts and data. The process is less emotional and more factual. If you are a woman and you are wondering why your new boyfriend has suddenly stopped talking as much, it’s probably because he’s found out everything he needs to know about you!
Another great insight is when men and women don’t communicate. It is likely that if you are a woman you will at some point use silence to punish a man. The trouble is if you are a man you more than likely enjoy silence! If you are giving your male partner the silent treatment, it will probably take him ten minutes or so to figure out that you’ve stopped talking to him. In that time you are getting more annoyed because he hasn’t noticed, and after ten minutes he will suddenly realise that he’s in trouble.
Like many of you I find these nuances between male and female communication fascinating. When you consider these differences in communication styles it’s no wonder some relationships run into difficulties. Good communication is clearly one of the cornerstones of a good relationship.
A popular theory is that these differences were passed down through your ‘genetic inheritance’. A woman would more likely need strong communication skills in a cave environment with young children under her protection. If you were a man out hunting for food communication was less important than coordination.
Have you ever experienced similar communication issues with a partner?
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