Part 6/13:
This biological setup supports early attachment but comes with the tradeoff of increased vulnerability and emotional reactivity, which may be less adaptive outside the context of caregiving. It explains why women tend to be more neurotic or anxious: their nervous systems are optimized for protecting and nurturing their offspring.
The Mother-Infant Dynamic and Neurobiological Wiring
From a biological perspective, women's nervous systems appear specialized for the mother-infant dyad. Caring for infants under nine months, which commonly involves breastfeeding and constant responsiveness, imposes unique emotional and physiological demands.