Sexual Orientation: Toward Biological Understanding

(Hardback)

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Genetic, hormonal, neurological and other biological factors need to be taken into account to fully understand sexual orientation. This work represents the latest research and theory on causes of variation in sexual orientation. It looks at sexual orientation as a cross-species phenomenon with numerous determining factors. This work is a collection of chapters by some of the leading researchers in the scientific study of sexual orientation. The theory that many genetic, hormonal, neurological and other biological factors need to be taken into account to fully understand sexual orientation is espoused in this book. It presents much of the latest research on the causes of variation in sexual orientation and related phenomena. It views sexual orientation as a cross-species phenomenon with both biological and environmental determinants.

Reviews

"Masterfully edited by Ellis and Ebertz, this volme brings together 11 of the 60 presentations made at the "First International Behavioral Development Symposium: Biological Basis of Sexual Orientation and Sex-Typical Behavior.,.".An objective reading of Sexual Orientation: Toward Biological Understanding suggests even to the most skeptical reader the power of biology in influencing sexual orientation....Ellis and Ebertz...are to be congratulated for keeping true to their promise, given in the preface, of making the book readable to nonspecialists. Anyone interested on the current state of research into the biological origins of sexual orientation can do not better than to read this book."-Book Reviews
Masterfully edited by Ellis and Ebertz, this volme brings together 11 of the 60 presentations made at the "First International Behavioral Development Symposium: Biological Basis of Sexual Orientation and Sex-Typical Behavior.,.".An objective reading of Sexual Orientation: Toward Biological Understanding suggests even to the most skeptical reader the power of biology in influencing sexual orientation....Ellis and Ebertz...are to be congratulated for keeping true to their promise, given in the preface, of making the book readable to nonspecialists. Anyone interested on the current state of research into the biological origins of sexual orientation can do not better than to read this book.-Book Reviews
No-one reading it could be left in any doubt about the relevance of brain structures and hormones to sex orientation. Among the many interesting contributions are Lee Ellis's own review of the evidence concerning the role of prenatal stress, drugs and toxins in perturbing the development of sexuality and Meyer-Bahlburg's account of how deficiencies in aromatase (an enzyme that converts testosterone to oestrogen) play an important part in sexual differentiation....These brief summaries at best give the flavour of the many interesting findings reported in this volume....This book will be an essential addition to the shelf of any serious researcher into sexual preferences.-Personality and Individual Differences
There is a very complete list of references at the end of the book and a useful author and subject index.-The Journal of Endocrine Genetics
"There is a very complete list of references at the end of the book and a useful author and subject index."-The Journal of Endocrine Genetics
"No-one reading it could be left in any doubt about the relevance of brain structures and hormones to sex orientation. Among the many interesting contributions are Lee Ellis's own review of the evidence concerning the role of prenatal stress, drugs and toxins in perturbing the development of sexuality and Meyer-Bahlburg's account of how deficiencies in aromatase (an enzyme that converts testosterone to oestrogen) play an important part in sexual differentiation....These brief summaries at best give the flavour of the many interesting findings reported in this volume....This book will be an essential addition to the shelf of any serious researcher into sexual preferences."-Personality and Individual Differences

Author Bio

LEE ELLIS is Professor, Department of Sociology at Minot State University. He has conducted research on biological influences on sexual orientation since the mid-1980s. His major interests are in the areas of the effects of genes, sex hormones, and brain functioning on all aspects of behavior, particularly behavior having to do with aggression, criminality, social stratification, and sexual orientation. Ellis is editor of several books, including Male/Female Differences in Behavior (Praeger,forthcoming), Social Stratification and Socioeconomic Inequality, Volume I (Praeger, 1993) and Volume II (Praeger, 1994), and (with Harry Hoffman) Crime in Biological, Social, and Moral Contexts (Praeger, 1990). LINDA EBERTZ helped organize the 1995 International Behavioral Development Symposium (along with Lee Ellis). She is a graduate of Minot State University.