The Human Beast

Why we do what we do.

Evolutionary psychologist Nigel Barber is the author of Why Parents Matter, The Science of Romance, among other books. See full bio

July 28, 2009

Sex hormones and womanly passions

In my last post, I pointed out that testosterone fuels the reckless sexual and aggressive behavior of young men and other male vertebrates. Recent research is closing in on sex hormones (androgens as well as estrogens) playing a very similar role for women.

The female hormone estradiol (a key estrogen) plays a role in dominance communication and physical aggression among primates. Read More

July 15, 2009

Sex, violence, and hormones

When male robins enter the breeding season, their testosterone level rises. They become aggressive and amorous. Testosterone has remarkably similar effects on men.

This conclusion does not sit well with most psychologists. Read More

July 7, 2009

Are Fertile Women More Attractive?

Recent research argues that female sexuality changes in the days surrounding ovulation. Read More

July 1, 2009

Ladies in Heat?

The Romans considered that female mammals were driven mad by sexual desire. The term "estrus" describing female sexual heat is derived from the word "oestren" or gadfly. Cows race madly around their pastures to escape being bitten by the gadfly. A recent scholarly book argues that women also experience estrus. Read More

June 17, 2009

Gay animals

Apart from "gay genes" in humans, the main evidence that homosexuality is naturally selected is the fact that gay animals are so common.
Read More

June 9, 2009

Could homosexual genes be naturally selected?

Scientific discovery has a way of shattering our preconceptions whether we are scientists or not. That is certainly true of homosexuality. Read More

June 1, 2009

Do parents favor natural children over adopted ones?

Cinderella's stepmother was cold and wicked. The dangers of being raised by such uncaring non relatives recur in folklore around the world. Yet, there are good reasons for doubting the implication that we can only really love children who are our own progeny. Read More

May 22, 2009

Missing link Ida: A star is born

It is hard to know whether to applaud or be appalled. Scientists, the media, and others are colluding to pretend that a missing link is the missing link

The public may hate real science but they are transfixed by fossil Ida a transitional primate between lemurs and monkeys/apes dating from 47 million years ago and discovered in Germany. Read More

May 15, 2009

Are religious people more ethical III? Sexual behavior

Mainstream religions generally prescribe a code of sexual conduct. This often discourages sex outside marriage, bans homosexuality, forbids prostitution, and demonizes pornography. Given the weight of religious prohibitions against non marital sexuality, many people assume that persons of faith must be more moral in their sexual conduct. Read More

May 7, 2009

Are religious people more ethical in their conduct? II

Last time, I concluded that the evidence on this question is mixed. Religious people come off better in some studies, and secularists come off better in others. Some evidence indicates that atheists are less likely to cheat on exams, for instance, whereas other evidence finds that religious people come off better in terms of charitable donations and volunteering. Read More

Books by Nigel Barber, Ph.D.

The Myth of Culture: Why We Need a Genuine Natural Science of Societies

Kindness In A Cruel World: The Evolution Of Altruism

The Science of Romance: Secrets of the Sexual Brain

Encyclopedia of Ethics in Science and Technology (Facts on File Science Library)

Why Parents Matter: Parental Investment and Child Outcomes

Evolutionary Psychology Basics

Our bodies evolved over eons, slowly calibrating to the African savanna on which 98 percent of our ancestors lived and died. So, too, did our brains. Evolutionary psychology postulates that the mind is shaped by pressure to survive and reproduce. We jealously guard romantic partners and cherish our closest relatives above all others, lest we fail to pass on our genes.

Go to the Evolutionary Psychology Basics page for more on Evolutionary Psychology including:

Current Issue

Everyday Creativity

How to start living creatively and reap the benefits.

Subscribe to The Human Beast

Books by Nigel Barber, Ph.D.

Evolutionary Psychology Basics

Current Issue