Man's preoccupation with sex and the opposite sex has sparked anew course at The University of Memphis.
The Biology Department is offering a course this semesterdesigned to answer questions about human sexuality and behaviorfrom an evolutionary point of view.
The course, Human Sociobiology, taught by Jerry O. Wolff,biology department chair, is open to all seniors and graduatestudents.
"Males do silly things to impress females," Wolff said.
The strange ways men and women express their attraction for oneanother are all perfectly natural, he added.
Wolff initiated the class to provide students with a basicunderstanding of human sexual and aggression behaviors.
"Everyone is interested in human behavior. They are interestedin sex, and they are intrigued by an internal conflict withevolution," he said.
The class will look at mate choices, sexual jealousy, sexualsignals, problems in kinship and group living, warfare,infanticide, child abuse, conflict between the sexes, dominance andsocial status, among others.
The class will also employ the science of human relations, sexand emotions that should be applicable in many students' lives.
"Natural selection is still in effect for humans," Wolffsaid.
This course provides a point of view for understanding theattractions and resulting actions of humans, who are oftenmystified by their own and others' behavior, Wolff said.
Class participation will comprise 40 percent of the class grade.Students are expected to analyze behavior and be able to apply itto their lives. Understanding the evolution of human behavior willhelp each student become a more marketable person, Wolff said.
"I pride myself on getting students to talk, and I give everyonean equal chance to talk," he said. "In the real world you must beable to communicate your ideas."
Although the class has just begun, student reaction to thesubject matter has been positive.
"I'll be able to think about and understand humans better," saidBrett Teubner, a 22-year-old biology graduate student.
Teubner described the class as a personal setting wherediscussion is comfortable and encouraged. He also said he enjoysthe teaching style -- not the same old format of memorization andregurgitation.
Wolff "tries to get you to think in a way you're not used to,"Teubner said.
Wolff will give a seminar on human sociobiology, "Human SexualStrategies: An Evolutionary Perspective" Thursday, Jan. 22, at 4p.m. in the Ellington auditorium.
