Sex, power, and partisanship: how evolutionary science makes sense of our political divide

Table of Content:

The Evolutionary Model: Why, How, and Caveats
How Nature Shapes Psychology
Openness to Experience
Fear of Outsiders
Inbreeding and Outbreeding
The Benefits of Outbreeding
The Benefits of Inbreeding
The Dangers of Germs
The Dangers of Men
Should We Outsmart Our Genes?
Theory of Mind
Theory of Mind: Differences between Women and Men
Theory of Mind: Differences between Liberals and Conservatives
Empathy Differences between Females and Males
Empathy Differences between Liberals and Conservatives
Differences in Facial Expressions between Females and Males
Differences in Facial Expressions between Liberals and Conservatives
Language Differences between Females and Males
Language Differences between Liberals and Conservatives
Eye Gaze Differences between Females and Males
Eye Gaze Differences between Liberals and Conservatives
Egalitarianism versus Competitiveness between Females and Males
Contents note continued: Egalitarianism versus Competition between Liberals and Conservatives
Cognitive Differences: Preference for Closed, Rule-Based Systems between Females and Males
Cognitive Differences: Preference for Closed, Rule-Based Systems between Liberals and Conservatives
Differences in Social Rules between Females and Males
Differences in Social Rules between Liberals and Conservatives
Evolved Utility
Rank and Resource Redistribution: The Liberal Endeavor
Competition for Food and Sex among Apes
Competition for Food and Sex among Men
Men and Their Numbers Strategy
How Numbers Strategies Drive Inequality
Social Dominance Orientation
Shared Genes, SDO, and Male Violence
Of Large Apes and Big Men
Alpha Gods and the Men Who Represent Them
Big Men on the Left
Right-Wing Authoritarianism Denuded
War as the Source of RWA
Suppressing Competition and In-Group Order
Conformity and Order
Contents note continued: The Defensive Game of Male Mate Competition
Case Studies of Conservatism as Male Sexual Control
The Islamic World
America
Abortion
Growing a Bigger Clan
On the Broader Dangers of Sexual Control
Why Women Are More Liberal
Liberalism and Long-Term Mating
Liberalism, Resources, and Short-Term Mating
Why All Women Aren't Democrats
Germs
Women and Their Male Alliances
Sexy Sons: How Women Can Love a Despot
Rape Fears
Women in Government
Blindness
How Fear Trumps Knowledge
Global Warming
Evolution
How Our Evolved Psychology Is Used to Exploit Us
Becoming Sighted
Closing Thoughts.

An evolutionary psychologist traces the roots of political divisions back to our primate ancestors and male-dominated social hierarchies. Through the lens of evolutionary science, this book offers a novel perspective on why we hold our political ideas, and why they are so often in conflict. Drawing on examples from across the animal kingdom, clinical psychologist Hector A. Garcia reveals how even the most complex political processes can be influenced by our basic drives to survive and reproduce--including the policies we back, whether we are liberal or conservative, and whether we are inspired or repelled by the words of a president. The author demonstrates how our political orientations derive from an ancestral history of violent male competition, surprisingly influencing how we respond to issues as wide-ranging as affirmative action, women's rights, social welfare, abortion, foreign policy, and even global warming. Critically, the author shows us how our instinctive political tribalism can keep us from achieving stable, functioning societies, and offers solutions for rising above our ancestral past.

http://prometheusbooks.com/books/9781633885141