The Female Brain

KELLER CENTER RESEARCH REPORT
Insider – The Female Brain

By Ivory E. Welcome, MBA Candidate December 2009
Dr. Louann Brizendine provides the technical perspective on the obvious physical differences
between the minds of men and women in her appropriately titled book, The Female Brain. She
describes how the differing structures of the male and female brains and the makeup of our
hormones work together to produce two very different perceptions of one’s environment and our
interactions with others that we encounter within that environment. “More than 99% of male and
female genetic coding is exactly the same…but that [1%] percentage difference influences every
single cell in our bodies – from the nerves that register pleasure and pain to the neurons that
transmit perception, thoughts, feelings, and emotions” (Bridenzendine).
Think Point #1: While the male brain is larger than the female brain by 9%, this has nothing to
do with a man’s mental capacity over a woman’s. The cells in a woman’s brain are merely more
compact than those of a man’s. In fact, several critical parts of the brain are larger in women than
in men, such as the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC), and the
Insula. The larger size of these sections of the female brain can provide important cues to an
agent attempting to sell to a female buyer. The ACC, for example, is responsible for weighing
options and making decisions; it often leads one to worry before making any important decision.
When dealing with a female buyer, speak to this need for absolute certainty in decision-making
by giving adequate attention to ensure her comfort with her decision to buy. The female brain
structure prompts this buyer to “have” to carefully weigh all options before reaching the “best
decision.” Implication for the real estate agent is clear; you must offer her several options that
cater to her individual desires and allow her to take the time necessary to be comfortable with her
final decision.
Think Point #2: Sincerity and honesty go a long way with a female buyer as she can often see
right through ulterior motives. The Insula controls one’s gut feelings; women are often accused
of being “psychic”, but in fact the female brain’s larger Insula makes women more equipped to
read faces, interpret the tone of voice and the emotions of individuals with which they are
engaged in conversation. Thus, the woman’s hormones and brain structure work together to
allow the woman to receive emotional signals with a stronger and clearer signal. “This
information is sent through her brain circuits to search her emotional memory banks for a match”
(Bridenzendine). From the relaxation or tension within the face, to the way one breathes or
postures oneself, the female is able to interpret these non-verbal behaviors to make her own
interpretations of an individual’s intentions. When verbal cues enter, the female brain searches
what an individual is saying to see if it is a match to the tone of voice of that individual. The
takeaway here: be genuine when approaching a female buyer. She can spot motives that are not
within her best interest a mile away!

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Think Point #3: Women’s emotions are so deeply

affected by the daily hormonal changes that occur
within the brain. The female brain is said to change a
little bit every day with some parts of the brain
changing as much as 25% within a month. These
changes are said to create a different reality for the
woman, where her values and desires could change
from one day to the next. As Dr. Brizendine put it, “A
woman’s neurological reality is not as constant as a
man’s. His is like a mountain that is worn away
imperceptibly over [time] by glaciers, weather and the
deep tectonic movements of the earth. Hers is more
like the weather itself – constantly changing and hard
to predict.” At times, things may be rocky when
working with a female client but don’t take offense –
remember that much of this is due to the changes
occurring within her brain from day to day. One
practical tip: consider keeping a “running log” of what
she says are important criteria to her. Open up each
sales call by reminding her of what you heard the last
time you connected with her.
Think Point #4: From the perspective of a female agent, remember that this extreme ability to
receive emotional signals also allows you to engage in emotional mirroring, or the activation of
similar emotional responses by merely observing or imagining another individual in a particular
emotional state. Research conducted at California State University of the success of
psychotherapists showed that those therapists who had the best results had the most emotional
connection with their clients. This allowed the therapists to comfortably settle into the climate of
the clients’ worlds by establishing good rapport. It so happened that all of these therapists were
also women. As a female agent, this aids you in the ability to sympathize with the desires and
emotions of your buyer, thus provide a more genuine buying experience.
Think Point #5: There is much more to learn about the male brain in order to aid in interactions
with a male buyer or as a male seller interacting with buyers. It is known, however, that the
larger Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) in women controls the wild emotions that result from the
Amygdala, which is naturally larger in men. Whereas a woman is more likely to bite her tongue
due to her aversion to conflict fueled by her larger PFC, the larger Amygdala in men cues a man
to stay alert for any indication of threatening emotional responses. While a woman’s emotions
may be unstable from day to day due to changing hormonal levels, a female client is less likely

to aversely respond to any conflict that could occur during the buying process. The male buyer,
on the other hand, is likely to pounce at any sign of threat or disagreement; maintain calm in any
touchy situation which may guarantee the future of this buying relationship. As a male agent, the
emotion centers within the brain are less active than in that of a woman. Women typically
remember emotional events, occurrences, and facts of a situation better than men. As a male
agent, take notes on potential buyers after each interaction. Review before interacting again to
aid in the memory of critical facts about the potential buyer to strengthen the buying relationship.
Recommended Reading
Brizendine, M.D., Louann (2006), The Female Brain, Broadway Publishers.
About The Author
Ivory Welcome, M.B.A. Candidate, December 2009, Baylor University Graduate Assistant,
Keller Center for Research. Completing her degree in December 2009, Ivory is completing a
specialized MBA degree in Healthcare.


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KELLER CENTER RESEARCH REPORT

Insider – The Female Brain

Think Point #3: Women’s emotions are so deeply

Brizendine, M.D., Louann (2006), The Female Brain, Broadway Publishers.

About The Author

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