Nature of man Quote by Rebecca Solnit
““For a century, the human response to stress and danger has been defined as “fight or flight.” A 2000 UCLA study by several psychologists noted that this research was based largely on studies of male rats and male human beings. But studying women led them to a third, often deployed option: gather for solidarity, support, advice. They noted that “behaviorally, females’ responses are more marked by a pattern of ‘tend-and-befriend.’ Tending involves nurturant activities designed to protect the self and offspring that promote safety and reduce distress; befriending is the creation and maintenance of social networks that may aid in this process.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, “The Third Response to Stress”, 2005
Research shows women often respond to stress by nurturing and forming supportive social bonds, a pattern called “tend‑and‑befriend.”
In simple terms: Women may cope by caring for others and building friendships.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate supportive networks during stressful times.
Themes
stress response
gender differences
social support
Mood
empathetic
analytical
Type
psychological
social
When to use this quote
- workplace crises
- family emergencies
- community organizing
- mental health care
Key Concepts
tend‑and‑befriend
evolutionary psychology
coping strategies
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you encourage tend‑and‑befriend behaviors in your community?
- When might a “fight or flight” response be more effective?
A Different Perspective
Not all stress situations fit this model; individual differences exist.
![“[In mountaineering, if] we look for private experience rather than public history, even getting to the top becomes an optional narrative rather than the main point, and those who only wander in high places become part of the story.” quote by Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e6/rebecca-solnit-569_high-places_in-mountaineering-if-we-look-for-private_78831.jpg)
