Developmental Brown Bag

Sari Van Anders, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan

Monday, November 19, 2012, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
3447 East Hall

Event Information

ABSTRACT:

Baby cries certainly elicit strong responses; just ask any parent, babysitter, or airplane passenger. Baby cries have also been shown to increase testosterone in men, which counters well-established evolutionary theory that testosterone and parenting are mutually inhibitory. In this talk, I present experimental data that address this paradox using two methods: images of crying infants, as well as happy infants and emotional adults, and a novel interactive infant doll paradigm. The experiments are situated in an older and extremely important framework for behavioral neuroendocrinology (the Challenge Hypothesis: Wingfield et al., 1990) as well as the Steroid/Peptide Theory of Social Bonds (van Anders et al., 2012), our newly developed framework for studying hormonal responses, classifying social behaviors, and characterizing hormonal action. I conclude by discussing the potential of this novel infant doll paradigm to provide critical insights into ameliorating the darker sides of caregiving (e.g. anger, frustration, violence) and enhancing the positives sides (e.g. intimacy, nurturance, reward).

BIO:

Sari van Anders is an Assistant Professor of Psychology & Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan, as well as faculty in the UM programs of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Science, Technology, and Society. Trained in behavioral neuroendocrinology, Dr. van Anders’ research program focuses on hormones and intimacy in social context, with special attention to social modulation of testosterone via sexuality, nurturance, and partnering/pair bonding, as well as feminist science practice.