The Evolution of Female Sexuality

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I wonder when I wrote enthusiastically about the evolutionary psychology of humor, blushing, athletics, male body odors, suicide and cannibalism. Yet whenever the issue relates to female sexuality, most outspoken opponents turn up in droves. Is this a debate over quality control in a particular academic field or a battle over politics and ideology? When the skeptics chime in, I suspect they are egged on by politicized reactants. It does seem like evolutionary psychologists will use that as a way to sidestep what is still a scientific philosophical objection to the assumption of heritability.

Psychologist and author Jesse Bering joins us to talk about evolutionary psychology and his forthcoming book Perv. In the relatively uncontroversial part of the episode, we ask if homophobia is an adaptation and if women have evolved rape defenses. After that, sex with animals, sex with bookshelves, foot fetishes, amputee fetishes, falling down the stairs fetishes... I don't know, just listen. Or maybe don't.

Jesse Bering [jessebering.com]

Perv (pre-order) by Jesse Bering [amazon.com]

"Darwin's Rape Whistle," by Jesse Bering [slate.com]

"Natural Homophobes?" by Jesse Bering [scientificamerican.com]

The Belief Instinct by Jesse Bering [amazon.com]

Why is the Penis Shaped Like That? by Jesse Bering [amazon.com]

"I think you're some kind of deviated prevert." [youtube.com]

Special Guest: Jesse Bering.

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