Human Sexuality: Biological, Psychological, and Cultural Perspectives

Human Sexuality: Biological, Psychological, and Cultural Perspectives is a unique textbook that provides a complete analysis of this crucial aspect of life around the world. Utilizing viewpoints across cultural and national boundaries, and deftly weaving evolutionary and psychological perspectives, Bolin and Whelehan go beyond the traditional evolution and primatology to address cross-cultural and contemporary issues, as well as anthropological contributions and psycho-social perspectives.

Taking into account the evolution of human anatomy, sexual behavior, attitudes, and beliefs, this far-reaching text goes beyond what is found in traditional books to present a wide diversity of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors found globally. In addition to providing a rich array of photographs, illustrations, tables, and a glossary of terms, this extraordinary textbook explores:

• pregnancy and childbirth as a bio-cultural experience
• life-course issues related to gender identity, sexual orientations, behaviors, and lifestyles
• socioeconomic, political, historical, and ecological influences on sexual behavior
• early childhood sexuality, puberty and adolescence
• birth control, fertility, conception, and sexual differentiation
• HIV infection, AIDS, AIDS globalization and sex work

Fusing biological, socio-psychological, and cultural influences to offer new perspectives on understanding human sexuality, its development over millions of years of evolution, and how sexuality is embedded in specific socio-cultural contexts, this is the text for educators and students who wish to understand human sexuality in all of its richness and complexity.