In this fascinating work, Jacques Balthazart examines what research on animals can tell us about the biological factors that control human sexual behaviorand orientation. In this fascinating book, Jacques Balthazart presents a simple description of the biological mechanisms that are involved in the determination of sexual orientation in animals and also presumably in humans. Using scientific studies published over the last few decades, he argues that sexual orientation, both homosexual and heterosexual, is under the control of embryonic endocrine and genetic phenomena in which there is little room for individual choice. The author begins with animalstudies of the hormonal and neural mechanisms that control the so-called instinctive behaviors and analyzes how this animal work may potentially apply to humans. The book does not focus exclusively on homosexuality, however. Instead,the book acts as a broader guide to the biological basis of sexualorientation, and also discusses important gender differences that may influence sexual orientation. While firmly grounded in the scientific literature, this text is developed for a broader audience and will be of interest to psychologists, researchers, students, and anyone interested in the biological factors that determine our sexuality. Introduction: Why this book?1. Sexuality 101: The Basics2. Sexuality and sexual orientation: learning or biology?3. The hormonal control of sexual behavior4. Biological determinism of sexual orientation in animals5. Gender differences in humans6. The effects of sex steroids in humans: organizing effects7. The effects of sex steroids in humans: activating effects8. Sex differences suggest that homosexuality is an endocrine phenomenon9. Sexual orientation in clinical cases10. A genetic or immunological mechanism underlying homosexuality11. General ConclusionsReferencesIndex
- ISBN: 978-0-19-983882-0
- Editorial: Oxford University
- Encuadernacion: Cartoné
- Páginas: 208
- Fecha Publicación: 08/12/2011
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés