Male, Female: The Evolution of Human Sex Differences

By David C. Geary

Book Overview

Now in a third edition, the authoritative classic text Male, Female evaluates both foundational and recent scholarship on the evolution of human sex differences, including how males and females differ in modern contexts.

In comprehensive detail, David C. Geary describes how men and women differ based on evolutionary principles, how human sex differences are similar to those found in other species and how the expression of these differences is uniquely human. The principles of sexual selection--such as female choice and male-male competition--explain sex differences in parenting, mate choices, ways of competing for mates, social-political preferences, development, the brain, and cognition. Far from being one-sided in the nature-versus-nurture debate, Geary shows how an evolutionary framework can easily incorporate the influence of experience and cultural context on the development and expression of sex differences.

Thoroughly updated and expanded, this third edition adds a chapter on sex differences that emerge in modern contexts, like occupational choices, variation in sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationships. Scholars from a wide range of sciences have much to learn from this monumental volume.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 143383264X
• ISBN13: 9781433832642
• Release Date: August 2020
• Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
• Length: 645 Pages
• Weight: 2.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

I really like it!

This is a classic and contemporary book about human behavior in an evolutionary approach. The sex differences is a interesting sobject and this book is a helpful guide to facilitate functional discussion and can be used by students as well. Thanks Geary.

Thorough, concise, convincing

This an extremely comprehensive book. With a bibliography bigger than some books, no one can say that Mr. Geary hasn't done his homework. His ability to distill a vast amount of information into a comprehensible, concise and compelling theory of the reasons for gender differences is remarkable. His writing style, although academicly oriented, is very readable. No words are wasted, and no thoughts are half-baked. Agree with him or not, his arguments are well concieved and well documented. A virtual one stop shop for all the documented differences between the sexes. A great book.

A provocative theory of sex differences

I wasn't sure at first, but after reading this book I was convinced that human sex differences are related to sexual selection. In all, this was the most interesting and thoughtful book that I have ever read on sex differences.

Excellent and comprehensive theory of gender differences

Professor Geary provides the most thorough discussion and explanation of gender differences I have ever read. His descriptions make sense in terms of my personal experiences and his theory and explanations are compelling. This is a must read for anyone who wants to really understand gender differences.

provocative and excellent research on gender differences

Ever wonder why older men are considered attractive (like Harrison Ford and Sean Connery, but rarely older women? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder when it comes to physical attraction in dating, or is beauty something we can all agree upon?Why are males more physically aggresive than females? Why are women more involved with the caretaking of children than men? Is there evidence that gender differences emerge before socialization can occur such as in infancy? Dr. Geary attempts to explain gender differences from an evolutionary framework by integrating compelling evidence from many social fields such as anthropology, psychology, and sociobiology. Unlike the watered down "Mars and Venus" books, this book is scholarly and offers scientific evidence to support the claims. A must read for any serious student or scholar of the social sciences.