Men and Sex: New Psychological Perspectives [Hardcover]

Ronald F. Levant (Editor), Gary R. Brooks (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047116903X | ISBN-13: 978-0471169031 | Publication Date: October 1997 | Edition: 1

"As Fresh as today's headlines, as scholarly as cutting-edge research, as clinically useful as any volume can be, Men and Sex is a well-written compendium that is essential reading for academics and clinicians. It is the last word on this most intriguing and socially relevant subject of men and their sexual desires." --William S. Pollack Director, Center For Men, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School Coauthor of In a Time of Fallen Heroes: The Re-creation of Masculinity "A bold and informative book on a topic too long neglected by psychologists and other social scientists." --Lucia Gilbert Professor of Educational Psychology and Director of Women's Studies. University of Texas at Austin "This is a truly important book. Turning conventional psychological wisdom on its head, these authors reveal that what we have long considered 'normal' male sexuality is, actually, a collage of pathologies -- objectifying, nonrelational, aggressive." --Michael Kimmel Professor of Sociology, Suny at Stony Brook Author of Manhood in America: A Cultural History "In this excellent book, Levant and Brooks have taken a courageous and necessary step in exposing the pitfalls for men of nonrelational sex, and offer, in its place, a model of intimate and engaged sexuality. Just as women are learning to embrace their power, men can learn to embrace the nurturant and caring aspects of themselves. Ultimately, both genders will benefit from having a greater range of emotions and behaviors available to them, and their sexual experiences will be more gratifying and complete." --Dorothy W. Cantor Coauthor of Women in Power: The Secrets of Leadership

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In this rapidly changing world, men are sometimes confused between traditional masculine roles and current expectations. The authors explore the topic by offering a theoretical approach to solving male sexual problems, such as sexual harassment and abuse, pornography, sexual addiction and objectification. Also included is research on homosexuality and ethnocultural issues' and a study of male sexuality from adolescence through old age.

From the Inside Flap

Are the stereotypes true? Are men obsessed with sex, attracted solely to a woman’s physical appearance, incapable of forming deep emotional bonds? Are men content to experience the physical release of intercourse without any underlying commitment to their partners? Are these and other traits that typify male sexuality hardwired—genetically programmed, immutable qualities that men and women must live with no matter how destructive they may be? In Men and Sex, Ronald Levant, Gary Brooks, and a team of leading researchers and practitioners challenge the evolutionary and genetic explanations of male sexuality from the perspective of the new psychology of men. Although many of their findings confirm the above stereotypes, these researchers argue strongly that men’s tendency toward nonrelational sexuality—although it may be normative—is not natural, not genetic, not a product of evolution; it is closely linked to the traumatic socialization of boys, in which displays of emotion are discouraged and emotional intimacy is equated with the loss of autonomy. The book begins with an examination of non-relational sexuality—the tendency to experience sex primarily as lust without any requirements for relational intimacy or emotional attachment. The central mechanism of nonrelational sexuality, the focus on physical attributes and the objectification of women—"the Centerfold Syndrome"—is linked to a spectrum of problems associated with nonrelational sexuality: appearance obsession in women, repetitive infidelity and Don Juanism, sex as a commodity, sexual harassment and rape, and the perpetration of sexual abuse. Variations of these problems are explored in chapters that examine nonrelational sex across the life span, in African-American men, and among gay men. Meticulously researched, persuasively argued, and vividly supported with stories of actual cases that are as revealing as they are moving, Men and Sex offers a firm foundation for mental health professionals and social scientists who want to encourage change on the personal as well as cultural levels. It is both a springboard for researchers who seek new avenues of investigation into male sexuality and a powerful introduction to the subject for students at the graduate and senior undergraduate levels.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 283 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047116903X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471169031
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)