A Descriptive Dictionary And Atlas Of Sexology

Features

Description

This dictionary provides over 6000 definitions of words used in the field of sexology. The editors aim to provide a standard basis for communication throughout this field which spans a wide range of academic disciplines in biological sciences, social sciences and humanities. The field of sexuality spans a wide range of academic disciplines in the biological sciences, social sciences, and humanities, many of which do not share a common vocabulary.

The diversity of expertise combined with a recent explosion of sexological research and knowledge has created confusion and inaccuracy in the cross-disciplinary use of language. By bringing together clear, succinct explanations of the terms and concepts used in each discipline, the authors of this descriptive dictionary aim to create a standard basis for communication throughout the field.

This work provides more than six thousand entries. It defines the terms and theories that are essential to an understanding of the field and documents important contributions to sexology - ranging from the observations of Greek philosophers to findings of sexual researchers from Kraftt-Ebing and Margaret Mead to Masters and Johnson.

A substantial number of entries reflect the work of Dr. John Money, who significanlty enriched the language of sexology and was responsible for such pivotal concepts as gender role and gender identity. Bibliographical information is provided for each topic and additional information is offered in the appendix.

Review: ?The history of sexology encompasses ideas and language from such diverse realms as biology, religion, psychology, philosophy, art, anthropology, sociology, and poetry; thus, a severe problem arises in the precise usage of sexual terminology. This dictionary provides a common basis for communication, bringing together terms and definitions from all disciplines.

More than 4,500 definitions, excluding slang and jargon, were complied from dictionaries and textbooks of sexuality, psychology, medicine, feminism, and other fields. Most terms are technical/medical in tone, though many commonplace words appear: love, matriarchy, chocolate. Entries range from a sentence to several pages in length.

The only illustrations are a few drab drawings in an appendix called Atlas of Human Sexuality. Other appendixes list names and descriptions of sexual phobias and philias; names of the 57 persons with a biographical sketch appearing in the dictionary; and decisions of the US Supreme Court (through 1990) relating to sexual behavior.

Francoeur, a widely published authority on sexuality, has produced an ambitious work which displays sensitivity to problems of negative or value-laden connotations of many sexual terms. Would be improved by eliminating the q.v. symbol used for the copious cross-references found in every definition. For professional and academic libraries at all levels.?-Choice