The Handbook of Sex Differences Volume IV Identifying Universal Sex Differences

The Handbook of Sex Differences is a four-volume reference work that assesses sex differences in humans, focusing on universal sex differences and their theoretical explanations. It examines social role theory and evolutionary theory, including religious scriptures, and identifies 308 likely universal sex differences. No single theory can explain all these differences, but evolutionary theories are better than social role theories.

Format: Hardback
Length: 908 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Handbook of Sex Differences is a comprehensive four-volume reference work that delves into the assessment of sex differences, with a primary focus on the human species. Drawing upon the highly influential 2008 book "Sex Differences," these volumes present significant new research findings from the past 15 years alongside earlier discoveries.

In the fourth and final volume of this series, two related questions are addressed: Are there universal sex differences (i.e., sex differences observed in all societies)? And if the answer is yes, what are they, and how can each one be theoretically explained? To answer the first of these two questions, this volume consolidates much of the research findings from the first three volumes into summary tables. Subsequently, three versions of social role theory and two versions of evolutionary theory are examined in relation to each potential universal sex difference to help identify likely universal sex differences. Religious scriptures are also considered as a sixth type of explanation.

In the concluding analyses, a total of 308 likely universal sex differences are identified. While no single theory was able to explain all these differences, the two evolutionary theories performed better in this regard than any of the three social role theories, including the recently proposed biosocial version of social role theory.

The Handbook of Sex Differences is an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and professionals seeking a comprehensive understanding of sex differences. Its extensive coverage of research findings, theoretical explanations, and diverse perspectives make it a must-read for those interested in this field.

Weight: 1860g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367434700