A Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion
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By: R Thornhill
Format: Paperback
From: MIT Press
Pub. Date: May 2001
From: MIT Press
Pub. Date: May 2001
Product Details:
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2001-06-20
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 269
Ean: 9780262700832
Isbn: 0262700832
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2001-06-20
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 269
Ean: 9780262700832
Isbn: 0262700832
ABOUT THE BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
In the past three decades the notion that rape is a crime of misogynistic violence rather than of misguided lust has gone from being a cutting-edge feminist theory to being an accepted criminological fact. So widespread and pervasive is this view of rape, accepted by politicians, judges and educators alike, to challenge it is to risk academic ostracism.
Now two American biologists, Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer, have risked precisely that. Their carefully weighed thesis is that rape is not the culturally learned behaviour of conditioned woman-haters, rather it is a Darwinian adaptation, an instinctive behaviourism typical of males (of many species) seeking to mate and propagate with otherwise unavailable fertile young females. In other words, rape IS sexual.
Predictably, this theory has caused outrage. Feminist lawyers says it gives rapists a "genetic excuse"; feminist academics say it ignores male-on-male rape, and rape of non-fertile females. In response to such expected critiques Thornhill and Palmer have adduced a persuasive mass of evidence from fields as diverse as zoology, psychology and haute couture. And the facts are truly curious. Did you know that women dress more skimpily during ovulation?
This is not a flawless text. It is too reductive. The writing is thick with scientific jargon: you should know the meanings of 'morphological' and 'phenotype' before you start. And sometimes the book becomes a bit of a rant against the "closed minds" of its politically correct opponents. But maybe that is to quibble too much: this is still an exhilarating and exciting book; it is also a very courageous attempt to throw some scientific light on a treacherously murky subject. --Sean Thomas
Now two American biologists, Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer, have risked precisely that. Their carefully weighed thesis is that rape is not the culturally learned behaviour of conditioned woman-haters, rather it is a Darwinian adaptation, an instinctive behaviourism typical of males (of many species) seeking to mate and propagate with otherwise unavailable fertile young females. In other words, rape IS sexual.
Predictably, this theory has caused outrage. Feminist lawyers says it gives rapists a "genetic excuse"; feminist academics say it ignores male-on-male rape, and rape of non-fertile females. In response to such expected critiques Thornhill and Palmer have adduced a persuasive mass of evidence from fields as diverse as zoology, psychology and haute couture. And the facts are truly curious. Did you know that women dress more skimpily during ovulation?
This is not a flawless text. It is too reductive. The writing is thick with scientific jargon: you should know the meanings of 'morphological' and 'phenotype' before you start. And sometimes the book becomes a bit of a rant against the "closed minds" of its politically correct opponents. But maybe that is to quibble too much: this is still an exhilarating and exciting book; it is also a very courageous attempt to throw some scientific light on a treacherously murky subject. --Sean Thomas
USER REVIEWS
"I highly recommend this book if your looking to justify sick and twisted minds and cause even more trauma to people who have been rapped., after reading it I thought I would go and look into "100 ways to justify murder" (after all survial of the fittest is nature hey?). One in 4 women are rapped in their life time, I wonder if Randy and Craig would say to their daughter if they had been rapped "its ok honey, its just biology, did you know that when your ovulating, you wear that skirt I don't like you to wear".
This book is disgusting, I can't believe anyone printed it let alone agree's with it-unless they share the same mindset.
"
~ Written on 2007-03-22
This book is disgusting, I can't believe anyone printed it let alone agree's with it-unless they share the same mindset.
"
~ Written on 2007-03-22
"It is hard to believe that the first reviewer read this rather dry, but nontheless thought-provoking book. The authors are at pains to discredit the 'naturalistic fallacy' --- that a behaviour or trait should be considered 'morally' good just because it may have been increased or augmented through the entirely amoral process of natural selection.
On the contrary, rape is a horrific crime --- and the authors explain why it is so horrific. But trying to prevent or reduce rape whilst we accept --- without rational argument --- the 'social sciences position', that rape is all about power and nothing to do with sex, is doomed to failure.
Any reasonable person can see that this book does not justify rape (Nothing can --- not even the Marquis de Sade). I would say that a man reading this book would if anything, be less likely to use any form of sexual coercion, and more ashamed of having done so. I suspect this book comes closer than any other to suggesting positive action that we could take to reduce the expression of part of our evolved biology in this most hideous form. Texts based on ideology, however, cannot help us: our genes came from natural, not political selection.
If you are looking for a sexual thrill, a justification for unacceptable behaviour, if you cannot stand to have your ideas challenged, or even if you are not interested in reading academic books --- leave this well alone. Otherwise read it."
~ Written on 2005-01-14
On the contrary, rape is a horrific crime --- and the authors explain why it is so horrific. But trying to prevent or reduce rape whilst we accept --- without rational argument --- the 'social sciences position', that rape is all about power and nothing to do with sex, is doomed to failure.
Any reasonable person can see that this book does not justify rape (Nothing can --- not even the Marquis de Sade). I would say that a man reading this book would if anything, be less likely to use any form of sexual coercion, and more ashamed of having done so. I suspect this book comes closer than any other to suggesting positive action that we could take to reduce the expression of part of our evolved biology in this most hideous form. Texts based on ideology, however, cannot help us: our genes came from natural, not political selection.
If you are looking for a sexual thrill, a justification for unacceptable behaviour, if you cannot stand to have your ideas challenged, or even if you are not interested in reading academic books --- leave this well alone. Otherwise read it."
~ Written on 2005-01-14
"a must-read for rapists eager to explicate themselves. i first heard of this book when a man who had been accused and acquitted (as more than 90% of those accused of rape are) of rape, and had written a novel about his traumatic experiences, was interviewed on radio 4. after spending 15 minutes assuring himself and the world that he had not committed rape, and that his ex-partner had enjoyed the brutal sex during which, i seem to recall, he either attempted or pretended to attempt to asphyxiate her with her underwear, that in fact it was she who had, he protested indignantly, shown the poor naive young man the illicit pleasures of violent sex during their relationship; he had, he conceded, not been very chivalrous. but rape? anyway, he then proceeded to explain the machinations of rape in terms of its being a natural evolutionary process. so having denied rape he was at pains to defend rape anyway, since it was quite natural. this book, of course, is the sourcebook for such worthy individuals, and despite the derision it has accorded from all corners of the academic world (surely the result of a conspiracy, by feminists, no doubt, or homosexuals), it should certainly be read, if only as a wonderful case study of poor, tendentious scholarship. thoroughly depressing. and malignant."
~ Written on 2003-12-09
~ Written on 2003-12-09
"If when you finish reading this book you start wondering why you hear the word rape every week but you almost never hear the word cuckold you're on the road to understanding one of the late 20th Century's most malicious deceipts.
This book exposes an important truth. It will be ignored and suppressed. Help prevent that happening by reading it."
~ Written on 2003-10-26
This book exposes an important truth. It will be ignored and suppressed. Help prevent that happening by reading it."
~ Written on 2003-10-26
"Being a string believer in Evolutionary Biology, I recommend this book to anyone who are interested in answering the "Why" of things.
The authors go in depth as to describing why evolutionary biology has been used as a approach to describe Rape and compare it other works on the subject (sometimes a bit too ostentatious though)."
~ Written on 2000-10-30
The authors go in depth as to describing why evolutionary biology has been used as a approach to describe Rape and compare it other works on the subject (sometimes a bit too ostentatious though)."
~ Written on 2000-10-30