This introduction to sex-related vocabulary offers clear illustrations of more than 130 signs used in the Deaf community, along with comprehensive explanations and notes on derivation. Companion videotape and special combination packages are available.

When a child under 12 engages in sexual behaviours, many parents wonder if this is a cause for concern, or natural and healthy. The author, a clinical psychologist, uses her expertise on child abuse and child sexuality to answer questions and to provide guidelines to help parents understand which behaviours are problematic and which are a normal part of exploration and play.

The groundbreaking Kinsey Report study on female sexuality from “one of the most influential figures in American intellectual history” (The New York Times). Originally published in 1953, the material presented in Sexual Behavior in the Human Female was derived from personal interviews with nearly 6,000 women; from studies in sexual anatomy, physiology, psychology, and endocrinology. The study revealed the incidence and frequency with which women participate in various types of sexual activity and how such factors as age, decade of birth, and religious adherence are reflected in patterns of sexual behavior. The authors make comparisons of female and male sexual activities and investigate the factors which account for the similarities and differences between female and male patterns of behavior and provide some measure of the social significance of the various types of sexual behavior. “[It] shocked the world in 1953 with its explicit revelations. Countries banned it. Churches berated it. Some scholars scoffed . . . but it was an instant success, selling 270,000 copies in less than a month . . . [Kinsey] made headlines around the globe with his findings on such things as masturbation, sex before marriage and adultery.”—CBSNews.com

Many issues remain unresolved in sexuality. In some cases this is because the infor mation is not available to resolve them. In others it is, but the available conclusions the information supports block its acceptance, because they conflict with the posi tions of dominant groups in the politics of sexuality. Possibly the most obvious example is the determination of many theorists to ignore the evidence that while men rarely report being sexually assaulted, when questioned in community surveys, they make up a third of the victims, and a quarter of the perpetrators of sexual assault are women. These findings are incompatible with the feminist theory that sexual assault is not a sexual act, but normal male behavior motivated politically, to maintain men's dominance of women. Most research supporting the theory investigated women only as victims and men only as aggressors. Some feminists have dismissed the need for any research to support their beliefs on the ground that such research is "busy work" establishing what women already know. One belief considered not to require re search is that heterosexual pornography made for a male audience increases the prevalence of rape by encouraging rape-supportive attitudes of male aggression and female submission. No criticism has been directed at the soft-core pornography of "Mills and Boon" stories written for women that promote similar attitudes.

Functional and Dysfunctional Sexual Behavior explores the full consequences of the dissociation between sexual behaviors and reproduction. Among the themes covered is the difference between the stereotyped sexual behaviors in non-human mammals and the astounding variety of human sexual behaviors. The role of learning in shaping sexual behaviors is explained, and it is shown how particular sexual experiences may be at the origin of common human sexual dysfunctions. Chapters on sexual incentives and a summary of the endocrine and central nervous control of sexual behaviors are included. - Analyzes the origin and foundations of some of the myths surrounding sexual behaviors - Highlights how learning shape human sexual behaviors - Provides an overview of the endocrine and neural regulation of mammalian sexual behaviors - Presents a comprehensive analysis of human sexual desire disorders - Employs many entertaining examples for illustrating main points - Written by a scientist thoroughly familiar with the research literature - Presents examples of translational sex research

This volume in the Springer Series in Evolutionary Psychology presents a state of the art view of the topic of sexuality and sexual behavior drawing on theoretical constructs and research of noted individuals in the field. Comprehensive and multi-disciplinary, this book seeks to provide a broad overview without sacrificing the complexity of a multi-faceted approach. The book is framed by introductory and closing sections that provide a context for the range of ideas contained within. Ample space is provided in designated sections that focus on key areas of sexuality from both male and female perspectives and that include information from primate studies. This volume can serve as a graduate text in sexual behavior in evolutionary terms and as a guide for further research.