Evidence, when presented in support of one’s own hypothesis, feels good. Similar evidence, but when presented, quite eloquently, to tear down the prevaEvidence, when presented in support of one’s own hypothesis, feels good. Similar evidence, but when presented, quite eloquently, to tear down the prevailing but flawed opposing hypothesis feels much better.
And that is exactly what Dr. Lloyd does in this book, which, I suppose encompasses much of her research, thorough, I might add.
As an evolution buff myself, it was quite satisfying to see the different adaptive hypotheses laid down with their arguments and assumptions, discussed and explained clearly, only to have them torn down, assumption by assumption, each flawed argument step by step, in the very next page.
The book itself is mostly targeted at a scientific audience. Though the author begins the book by giving the necessary conditions, that she thinks need to be answered or fulfilled to consider a trait as adaptive, this book will not be an easy read for someone who is not familiar with the evolutionary theory. Spoiler alert: The book bats for a non-adaptive spandrel-themed theory of the evolution of female orgasm.
Honestly, the amount of knowledge one can gain through the book is immense. Not just the various theories, but the different studies done on sexology research, the prevalence of orgasms in nonhuman primates (and the totally insane ways used to investigate them), the statistics of the prevalence of orgasms (through sex and masturbation) and most importantly, the prevalent androgenic bias in proposing a hypothesis. Most researchers seem to assume, blindly, that women orgasm (or supposed to / or used to in the Paleolithic era) invariably, every time during sex. I mean, how much more androgenic or men-ish, should one be, to base this as one of the primary assumptions when proposing a hypothesis!
Also, totally loved the section on the different definitions of adaptations. It is kinda nice to have an existential crisis, outside one’s field!...more
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