ABSTRACT

This book focuses on human behavior as it relates to sexuality. Human behavior is notably complex and requires us to look for explanations for certain behaviors at multiple levels. For example, if we want to understand why a person acts aggressively in a given circumstance, we must investigate the immediate environment and events that might have triggered an aggressive reaction. What in this individual’s life history could help explain the reaction? What aspects of his or her cultural environment and socialization might explain the behavior? Let’s say we are observing a nursery school classroom. We watch as a little girl approaches a little boy and tries to take

a toy from him. He hits her. Why did he behave this way? Multiple explanations can be offered. He was provoked by her. Boys are socialized in this culture to act with aggression when their property is threatened. Or perhaps one could take an evolutionary view and argue that males have been selected to act aggressively and possessively under certain circumstances because those behaviors were adaptive in the past.