Are women and men biologically destined to be in perpetual conflict? Does evolutionary genetics adequately explain sexual aggression? Such questions have been much debated in both the media and academia. In particular, the notion that rape is an evolutionary adaptation, put forth by Randy Thornhill and Craig T. Palmer in their book "A Natural History of Rape", vaulted the debate into national prominence. This book assesses Thornhill and Palmer's ideas, as well as the critical responses to their work. Drawing on theory and data from anthropology, behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, primatology, psychology and sociology, the essays explain the flaws and limitations of a strictly biological model of rape. They argue that traditionally stereotyped gender roles are grounded more in culture than in differing biological reproductive roles.;The book is divided into three parts. The first part, "Evolutionary Models and Gender", addresses broad theoretical and methodological issues of evolutionary theory and sociobiology. Part 2, "Critiquing Evolutionary Models of Rape", addresses specific propositions of Thornhill and Palmer, making explicit their unexamined assumptions and challenging the scientific bases for their conclusions. It also considers other studies on biological gender differences. Part 3, "Integrative Cultural Models of Gender and Rape", offers alternative models of rape, which incorporate psychology and cultural systems, as well as a broader interpretation of evolutionary theory.
| ISBN: | 9780262201438 |
| Publication date: | 11th February 2003 |
| Author: | Cheryl Brown Travis |
| Publisher: | The MIT Press an imprint of MIT Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 454 pages |
| Series: | A Bradford Book |
| Genres: |
Psychology |
Are women and men biologically destined to be in perpetual conflict? Does evolutionary genetics adequately explain sexual aggression? Such questions have been much debated in both the media and academia. In particular, the notion that rape is an evolutionary adaptation, put forth by Randy Thornhill and Craig T. Palmer in their book "A Natural History of Rape", vaulted the debate into national prominence. This book assesses Thornhill and Palmer's ideas, as well as the critical responses to their work. Drawing on theory and data from anthropology, behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, primatology, psychology and sociology, the essays explain the flaws and limitations of a strictly biological model of rape. They argue that traditionally stereotyped gender roles are grounded more in culture than in differing biological reproductive roles.;The book is divided into three parts. The first part, "Evolutionary Models and Gender", addresses broad theoretical and methodological issues of evolutionary theory and sociobiology. Part 2, "Critiquing Evolutionary Models of Rape", addresses specific propositions of Thornhill and Palmer, making explicit their unexamined assumptions and challenging the scientific bases for their conclusions. It also considers other studies on biological gender differences. Part 3, "Integrative Cultural Models of Gender and Rape", offers alternative models of rape, which incorporate psychology and cultural systems, as well as a broader interpretation of evolutionary theory.
Evolution, Gender, and Rape features in the following genres: Psychology
Evolution, Gender, and Rape is available in Hardback
Evolution, Gender, and Rape was written by Cheryl Brown Travis and published by The MIT Press an imprint of MIT Press
Evolution, Gender, and Rape has 454 pages
Yes it is part of A Bradford Book series