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Cited by 3,308Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and CortisolAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight.

Taylor, Shelley E., Klein, Laura Cousino, Lewis, Brian P., Gruenewald, Tara L., Gurung, Regan A. R., Updegraff, John A.·2000·Psychological Review
DOI 10.1037/0033-295x.107.3.411
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Abstract

The human stress response has been characterized, both physiologically and behaviorally, as "fight-or-flight." Although fight-or-flight may characterize the primary physiological responses to stress for both males and females, we propose 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. The biobehavioral mechanism that underlies the tend-and-befriend pattern appears to draw on the attachment-caregiving system, and neuroendocrine evidence from animal and human studies suggests that oxytocin, in conjunction with female reproductive hormones and endogenous opioid peptide mechanisms, may be at its core. This previously unexplored stress regulatory system has manifold implications for the study of stress.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-295x.107.3.411

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232 of 232 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The findings correspond to 'befriending' mechanisms in women, as opposed to fight-or-flight physiology in men, and to anxiolytic effects found in previous human research.

    “They also correspond to 'befriending' mechanisms in women, as opposed to the fight-or-flight physiology in men, as suggested by Taylor et al. (2000), and to the anxiolytic effects which were found in previous research in humans (Meyer-Lindenberg et al., 2011).”

    From Sex-specific effects of intranasal oxytocin on autonomic nervous system and emotional responses to couple conflict (2013) · cites this paper as Taylor et al., 2000

  • Oxytocin enhances the salience of positive social cues to facilitate tend-and-befriend and approach behavior in females toward individuals with prosocial attributes.

    “Our observations correspond to OXT enhancing the salience of positive social cues to facilitate ' tend-and-befriend ' (33) and approach behavior in females toward individuals with prosocial attributes (8).”

    From Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them (2016) · cites this paper as [33]

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Authors
Taylor, S. E., Klein, L. C., Lewis, B. P., Gruenewald, T. L., Gurung, R. A. R., & Updegraff, J. A.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Review
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2000
Volume
107
Issue
3
Pages
411-429
ISSN
  • 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1471
DOI
10.1037/0033-295x.107.3.411
OpenAlex
W2149915148
Cited by
3,308
References
232
Citations by year
2026: 130 · 2025: 111 · 2024: 139 · 2023: 124 · 2022: 158 · 2021: 185 · 2020: 149 · 2019: 150 · 2018: 167 · 2017: 165 · 2016: 178 · 2015: 181 · 2014: 159 · 2013: 159 · 2012: 165
FWCI
73.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH056880, MH15750, MH 056880, T32MH015750)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
fight or flight, stress response, social support, social networks, oxytocin, female sex hormones, endogenous opioids, stress regulation, sex differences
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Neurosecretory Systems, Reproduction, Stress, Psychological, Caregivers

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