Animal Homosexuality

Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-0-521-14514-5
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 544 Seiten, Format (B × H): 189 mm x 246 mm, Gewicht: 1103 g

Homosexuality is an evolutionary paradox in search for a resolution, not a medical condition in search for a cure. Homosexual behavior is common among social animals, and mainly expressed within the context of a bisexual sexual orientation. Exclusive homosexuality is less common, but not unique to humans. Poiani and Dixson invite the reader to embark on a journey through the evolutionary, biological, psychological and sociological aspects of homosexuality, seeking an understanding of both the proximate and evolutionary causes of homosexual behavior and orientation in humans, other mammals and birds. The authors also provide a synthesis of what we know about homosexuality into a biosocial model that links recent advances in reproductive skew theory and various selection mechanisms to produce a comprehensive framework that will be useful for anyone teaching or planning future research in this field.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Poiani, Aldo

Dixson, Alan

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies: Homosexualität, LGBTQ+
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierökologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierethologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Animal homosexuality in evolutionary perspective; 2. The comparative study of homosexual behaviour; 3. Genetics of homosexuality; 4. Ontogenetic patterns; 5. The endocrine and nervous systems: a network of causality for homosexual behaviour; 6. Immunology and homosexuality; 7. Sexual segregation effects; 8. The social, life-histories and ecological theatres of animal homosexual behaviour; 9. Homosexual behaviour in primates; 10. A biosocial model for the evolution and maintenance of homosexual behaviour in mammals and birds.

Über Autor(innen)

Poiani, Aldo
Aldo Poiani is an evolutionary ecologist from Monash University, Australia. He has studied social behaviour, sexual behaviour and parasitism in birds, having published widely in the fields of avian cooperative breeding and host-parasite interactions, including aspects related to behaviour, endocrinology and comparative biology. He has carried out field research in Australia, Europe and South America and is editor of the book Floods in an Arid Continent.