Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why : The Science of Sexual Orientation
Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why : The Science of Sexual Orientation
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Author(s): LeVay, Simon
ISBN No.: 9780199931583
Pages: 432
Year: 201607
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $ 24.94
Status: Out Of Print

Introduction Chapter 1: What Is Sexual Orientation? Criteria for sexual orientation Sexual orientation in men and women Stability of sexual orientation Prevalence of different orientations Are there categories? Sexual orientation across cultures Chapter 2: Why We Need Biology Psychoanalytic theories Learning theories-influence of early sexual experiences Learning theories-gender learning Is it a choice? The biological alternative Chapter 3: The Outline of a Theory 30 Male and female brains Male and female behaviors Development of sex differences in animals Sexual partner preference in animals Origins of variation within each sex Relevance to human sexual orientation Sexual orientation in nature Chapter 4: Childhood Development of gendered childhood traits Childhood traits associated with adult sexual orientation: retrospective studies Prospective studies Contrasting models Chapter 5: Characteristics of gay and straight adults Gendered traits in adulthood 54 Origin of gendered traits Sexual orientation and cognitive traits: visuospatial abilities 58 Verbal fluency Memory tasks Handedness Intelligence Personality traits: Masculinity-femininity Occupational preferences Other personality traits Sexuality Overview Chapter 6: The role of sex hormones Hormone levels in gay and straight adults Why focus on prenatal sex hormones? Hormone levels during development Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Finger length studies The inner ear Central auditory system Action of sex hormones on the developing brain Possible causes of variability in prenatal androgen levels Chapter 7: The role of genes Sibling studies Is the family clustering caused by genes? Twin studies Molecular genetics-candidate-gene studies Genome scans Genes and sexuality in fruit flies Genes, homosexuality, and evolution Kin selection The "fertile female" hypothesis Beneficial effects on same-sex relatives Chapter 8: The brain A brief tour of the brain The hypothalamus and sexual orientation Other brain regions Brain activity Pheromone studies Sheep Overview Inhibition and sexual orientation Chapter 9: The body Body size and shape Trunk and limb length Penis size Symmetry and developmental instability Hair whorl direction Gaydar Overview Chapter 10: The older-brother effect How well established is the older brother effect? How strong is the older brother effect? The older-brother effect and handedness What causes the older-brother effect? Is the older-brother effect adaptive? Chapter 11: Conclusions Sexual orientation is linked to other gendered traits A common origin for gender-shifted traits? The role of genes Does the older-brother effect work through prenatal hormones? Is there a random biological influence? How does sexual orientation become categorical? Diversity among gay people Changes in the prevalence and nature of homosexuality Sexual orientation and gender: the social fallout Glossary Bibliography.


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