Women Hold Babies On The Left To Connect To Emotional Half Of the Brain
<<http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/001916.html#001916>>
Results indicate that women cradle on the side of the body that is contralateral to the hemisphere dominant for face and emotion processing and suggest a possible explanation of gender differences in the incidence of cradling.
---- I think would also partially explain the tendency towards right-handedness, which effects which side of the body a baby would normally be held.
Or is it possible that mothers tend to hold babies on the left side because the heartbeat is more easily heard on the left side, and (as previous studies have suggested) the mother's heartbeat is a soothing sound to babies and so babies held in a position where they can clearly hear their mother's heartbeat are comforted more and fuss less?
Ever notice how girls Vs boy carry books in school? Girls always carry books close on their breast (like carrying a baby), and boys carry books on their hips.
I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but the structure of the arm and in particular the elbow joint differ somewhat between men and women, which may influence the way each finds it most comfortable to hold a burden. It might also have something to do with the fact that men in general have more upper body strength than women, so women find it more comfortable to hold something relatively heavy like a stack of books near their bodies to give it additional support. Or of course it could be a psychological thing due to gender roles, with the girl unconsciously using the books as a shield against strangers, particularly strange boys. (I put that last because it is (1) not easily subject to definitive testing and (2) more likely to be controversial.)
-- Ronn! :)
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