Review Author(s): Craig T. Palmer Review by: Craig T. Palmer Source: Journal of Anthropological Research, Vol. 66, No. 2 (SUMMER 2010), pp. 302-303 Published by: University of Chicago Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27820915 Accessed: 16-02-2016 16:48 UTC
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302
RESEARCH
JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL
resource and Ciupe), and reproductive competition intensification/deintensification (Kuijt). Two chapters
andMace
wealth
summarize theirextensive phylogenetic analysis of the relationshipbetween
transfer
while
Wiessner
conflict
among cultural
volume
(Kennett et al.), and resource address marriage systems: Fortunato
skew
vs. polygyny), form (monogamy and marriage (dowry vs. bride wealth) offers an insightful examination of marital choice and parent-offspring Ju/'hoansi. Relatively little attention is paid to the emergence of high transmission
in the hominin
lineage,
even
and
less to comparison
with
non-homininspecies, althoughtwopapers (byDunbar and by Smith,Hughes, andMithen) do partially
address
those topics.
Key issues addressed (butnot resolved) bymultiple contributorsinclude the relative
versus cultural horizontal (peer-to-peer) (parent-to-offspring) and the the between and sociocultural transmission, dynamics, relationship demographic (simulation, analysis, efficacy of various modeling techniques phylogenetic cospeciation in cultural evolution. models, etc.) in analyzing complex patterns and dynamics importance
of vertical
that this and empirical datasets means variety of models, analytical methods, is reasonably of the broader field of evolutionary anthropology. representative or central focus to the volume. it also means that there is relatively little cohesion
The volume But Thus,
is a good
the collection
one
for advanced
or professionals
students
who
already
have a grasp of the basics of evolutionary anthropology; it is not the place to send for an overview
novices
(although
Shennan's
does
introduction
provide
to the uninitiated).
Sexual
in Primates An Evolutionary and Humans: Martin N. Muller and Richard Females. against MA: Harvard University Press, 2009, pp. 483. $55.00,
Coercion
Cambridge,
guidance
Eric Alden Smith University
Aggression
some
Seattle
ofWashington,
on Male Perspective W. Wrangham, eds. cloth.
two categories of anthropologists should read this edited volume and seriously courses. Most it obviously, using it for their graduate or advanced undergraduate in of forced is ideal for primatologists specializing evolutionary explanations copulations, or infanticide. mate will find the original studies of Such guarding, anthropologists At
least
consider
specific
concepts, and impressive bibliographies primate species, clearly defined analytical to their own research and an efficient way for their students to enter useful
extremely
thisvibrant area of study. What is less obvious is thatthisbook could be very useful to
to start a productive ithas the potential about the because anthropologists dialogue causes in general, between of human and human behavior rape, evolutionary evolutionary who have, in many and cultural anthropologists cases, not been on speaking biologists cultural
terms for at least the past decade. For primatologists, the book
has
the excitement
contained
in the presentation
of
cutting-edgeresearch that is often the strengthof edited volumes like thisone based on
at a conference. In addition, the book papers presented in conference First, it has an exceptionally proceedings. of sexual conflict based on the definitions consistency
two advantages often lacking theoretical and conceptual and sexual coercion presented by has
clear
Smuts and Smuts (Advances in theStudy ofBehavior 22:1-63, 1993). Indeed, themain argument
of the book
definition
of sexual
is that these definitions
constitute
the most
useful
approach
to the
studyof sexual conflict in all of itsmanifestations.At the core of this argument is the coercion:
"the use by a male
of force, or threat of force, that functions
to increase thechances thata femalewill mate with him at a timewhen she is likelytobe fertile, and to decrease
the chances
that she will mate with
other males,
at some
cost to the
female" (pp. 2-3 inSmuts and Smuts 1993).Although thisdefinitionis inconsistent with Journal
of Anthropological
Research,
vol. 66, 2010
This content downloaded from 128.206.96.137 on Tue, 16 Feb 2016 16:48:14 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
303
BOOK REVIEWS everyday
parlance the chances
coercion,
evolutionary of this leading
are
functions
where
to what
irrelevant
constitutes
sexual
are minimized
to serious misunderstandings
by the
repetitionof the specialized definitions inmany of the chapters (Smuts and Smuts 1993 is cited in 17 of the 18 chapters).The use of the same key definition,and the concepts into the volume enables readers to incorporate most of the chapters this book has over other edited framework. The second advantage explanatory is that many of the chapters present excellent reviews of the literature on species
to it, throughout
related
a coherent volumes
other than the one that is the focus of the chapter.This makes the volume valuable to researchers
in general, or larger in one particular species, nonhuman primates It also allows readers sufficient information with which comparisons. about the usefulness of the book's framework. conclusions conceptual
specializing
scale
cross-species to draw their own
The contributionthisbook potentiallymakes to culturalanthropology ismuch less
in the form of a potential for stimulating future research and straightforward, existing more the greatest contribution than in the value of the articles themselves. discussion Specifically, may be in the use of seemingly contradictory, unclear, or simply surprising statements as to start useful
ways
of fundamentally
discussions
Not
important questions.
surprisingly,
the
contradictory,
or
closer the chapterson humans get to the topicsof the sexualmotivation of rapistsand the evolved
differences
in the sexual proclivities
of males
and females,
themore
at leastmuddled, theargumentsbecome. For example, thediscussionbyThompson (p. 350)
on whether
or not rapists are motivated
by sexual
desire would
an ideal
make
starting point
fora discussion, especiallywhen read alongwith Pinker (pp. 359-71 inThe Blank Slate: TheModern Denial ofHuman Nature. New York: Viking, 2002) and Palmer and Thornhill
are intriguing statements, however, not if in actual the agreement, similarity, explanations and most cultural anthropologists. of human behavior put forth by evolutionary biologists For example, Rodseth state that "We do not see the "system" and Novak [i.e., society] as 40:249-55, (Journal of Sex Research those that suggest there is now great
an autonomous
or ultimate
anthropologists
these days?a
source point
The most
2003).
of human
behavior
that has been
slow
(nor, by the way, to dawn on many
do most
cultural
evolutionists
still
my joustingspear tiltingat culturaldeterminism)"(p. 312). Although I'm notwilling to retire
quite yet, I hope this book is used in universities toward such a future reconciliation.
everywhere
to raise such questions
and make
progress
University and Climate Change: Anthropology and Mark eds. Walnut Nuttall, Creek, $34.95,
From CA:
to Actions.
Encounters Left
Coast
Craig T. Palmer of Missouri-Columbia
Press,
384
Susan pp.,
A. Crate
$75.00,
cloth;
paper.
a lot of covers and Mark and Climate Susan Crate Nuttall's Anthropology Change a lengthy introduction and a brief epilogue between ground. Sandwiched by the editors are 24 chapters organized "Climate and Culture," into three sections: "Anthropological are written mostly Actions." The and "Anthropological Encounters," chapters by
anthropologistsforanthropologists,but physical scientistssuch as myselfwill finduseful information
will
and
be climate
anthropology which is useful when white
in several
insights
change researchers and the environmental
of the chapters. The primary audience for the book courses students in upper- and graduate-level in and social sciences. Each of the chapters stands alone,
and
but involves annoying amounts of repetition assignments The book is sparsely illustrated and the black-and chapters sequentially. paper are dull. photos on non-glossy for class
reading
are read
In the first section, Homo sapiens,
between
Journal
Fekri Hassan climate
provides
change,
of Anthropological
a useful
agriculture,
Research,
review and
vol.
of the long relationship from developments
cultural
66, 2010
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