Early behavioral differences: gender or circumcision?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric behavioral science
• Neonatal studies
• Human infant development

Background:

• Limited research exists on long-term behavioral effects of early physical or pharmacological insults in humans.
• Circumcision is a common procedure in male infants, with potential implications for development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present evidence suggesting male infant circumcision induces behavioral changes.
• To explore the potential impact of circumcision-induced behavioral alterations on reported gender differences in research.

Main Methods:

• Review of circumstantial and direct evidence linking infant circumcision to behavioral shifts.
• Analysis of existing American studies on circumcised infants to re-evaluate gender difference findings.

Main Results:

• Evidence indicates that male infant circumcision is associated with behavioral changes.
• Observed gender differences in some studies may be artifacts of altered behavior in circumcised males.

Conclusions:

• Circumcision in male infants warrants independent and thorough investigation.
• The procedure should be described and potentially controlled for in all studies involving neonates and infants to mitigate confounding behavioral variables.