Differences Between Non-Parental Male and Female Responses to Infant Crying

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between how non-parental males and females between the ages of 20 and 24 respond physiologically to an audio recording of a crying infant. Based on previous research that investigated differences in physiological response of mothers and fathers to auditory stimuli of infants in distress, the difference between non-parental male and female physiological responses was studied. It was hypothesized that females would have a greater response in all three physiological variables studied. Within the experiment there were a total of 30 participants; 15 male and 15 female. While participants listened to a 30 second recording of an infant crying, measurements of brain activity, heart rate, and electrodermal activity were taken. Since a large number of studies measuring responses to infant stimuli were conducted using parents as subjects, the present experiment adds a new angle to a widely discussed topic. No significant difference was seen between males and females in any of the physiological variables that were measured.