SEX TALK

A detailed theory of how men and women communicate.

Debut author Furlich, an associate professor in the communication studies program at Texas A&M University-Commerce,argues that there are distinct differences in how men and women converse. Men, he says, tend to concentrate on “report talk,” with words “focused on content and task, and less on building relationships”; women, on the other hand, use conversation to build a stronger sense of connection with others. To that end, they use what is otherwise known as “rapport” talk, according to Furlich. Although similar notions have been explored in many other works, they’ve often relied on the concept that communication differences stem mainly from cultural influences. In this work, the author argues that they instead lie primarily in biological factors. Testosterone and estrogen levels, he asserts, can affect how a person displays complex emotions, while differences in brain structures can influence how one processes information, and these and many other elements, the author argues, have evolved over time. For example, the author asserts that women react differently to the hormone oxytocin than men do, which positively affects their caregiving abilities: “Both parents are capable of experiencing increased levels of oxytocin when physically interacting with their child. However, when mothers experience increased levels of oxytocin when interacting with their infants, they display more affectionate behaviors.” He also states that some boys may treat a doll as a weapon, not because society has taught them to do so, but because higher levels of testosterone cause them to be more aggressive.

The book unflinchingly takes on a large, controversial topic, offering citations from numerous studies that aim to reinforce the author’s arguments that evolution has paved the way for different skill sets. Chapters feature conclusions about how, for instance, modern societal roles have roots in ancient peoples’ drive for survival. Some of the more technical language may alienate lay readers (“the serotonergic system is sexually dimorphic”), but most of Furlich’s points are clear, although a few choices come across as odd. For instance, the author states multiple times in multiple chapters that “testosterone is found at 20–25 times more” in those who are born male when just one mention of this statistic would have been sufficient. A section on physical attractiveness states that a full beard is seen as “more attractive than patchy facial hair,” which many may find obvious, even without supporting studies; that said, a brief discussion on pubic hair (with the concluding opinion that “More information about safe pubic hair grooming should be disseminated with the general public”) seems somewhat out of place. Biological factors certainly affect how people interact with the world, and the author makes intriguing arguments, although they likely won’t convince those who assert the power of culture to shape behavior—which is, of course, also supported by numerous studies. However, readers are likely to come away with a new consideration of how evolutionary factors may play roles in daily life.

A provocative text about the interplay of biology and culture.