Craig T. Palmer Review by

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

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

University of Chicago Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Anthropological Research.

http://www.jstor.org

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

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


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
