Bioculture of love and sex

What is "love" and why does it consume us?

Biological evidence suggests that aspects of romantic love, although mediated by socio-cultural constructs, are hard-wired into the brain. Ultimately, the human brain appears to process lust (the sex drive), attraction (passionate love) and attachment (bonding) in a culturally universal and panhuman fashion.

HDEV 333, a new course at Binghamton University, examines the bio-behavioral foundations of attachment and implications for intimate relationships, sex and family systems. Using a biocultural approach, this course explores three specific aspects of romantic love: why has it evolved, what are the biological bases and how do particular cultural environments shape notions and the natural expression of love?

Readings, discussions and class presentations delve into the features most relevant to how the brain influences love with respect to human development today, covering a wide breadth of topics to develop a natural perspective of romantic love including: the neurobiology of love, linguistic and cross-cultural notions of love, love at first sight, jealousy, cuddling, infidelity, casual sex, kinship, cooperative breeding and pair-bonding.

HDEV 333: Bioculture of Love and Sex is a new course at Binghamton University, designed and taught by Justin Garcia.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Love
• Sex
• Human Development
• Bioculture
• Garcia
• Evolution
• Brain
• Science

[ultimateshield79]

Justin Garcia is a latter-day god of love.