Sexual Attraction: The Psychology of Allure

Commendation Quotes: "At a time when the internet and mixed-gender workplaces put us in daily contact with more people than any other generation in human history, we need to understand attraction far more than we do. Giles' book is a welcome step in that direction. Part psychology, part philosophy, and part anthropology, the book refers to a wide range of research and is a thought-provoking, enjoyable read. Many books discuss desire or arousal, but this book discusses both--and in the context of attraction, a terrific approach."Commendation Quotes: "This book is charming. Its author writes in a comfortable style that reminds you of a grand uncle, sitting in a leather chair, chatting about things that he has thought about for some time. The observations are laced with the latest social psychological evidence. The text is also one of a kind--very few scholars, surprisingly, have written so engagingly on the nature and varieties of sexual attraction."Commendation Quotes: ""Sexual Attraction: The Psychology of Allure" provides an in-depth, comprehensive, and nuanced analysis of this distinct form of attraction. With thought-provoking insights on every page, James Giles answers questions about sexual attraction you didn't know you had. Highly recommended reading for those who want a smart, articulate, and engaging investigation of the diverse body of sexual attraction research."Commendation Quotes: ""Sexual Attraction: The Psychology of Allure" is a wonderful follow-up to his previous, "The Nature of Sexual Desire." Employing an engaging mix of philosophical, psychological, and literary analysis, James Giles will make you think deeply about this rarely explored phenomenon."Commendation Quotes: "Ever wonder about sexual attraction and how it differs from other forms of attraction and sexual desire? Well, look no further. "Sexual Attraction: The Psychology of Allure," by James Giles (PhD), takes the reader on a fascinating journey to understand the personal, yet complex and multifaceted nature and experience of sexual attraction. The book is educational, illuminating, and colored with vivid quotes from interviews, as well as numerous examples from literature, music, internet videos, poetry, comics, relevant research citations, and historical data."Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; How and why does sexual attraction happen? This book is an exploration of the universal yet highly individualised experience of being sexually attracted to another person. Biographical Note: James Giles, PhD, is adjunct professor of psychology at Roskilde University, Denmark, and lecturer at the University of Cambridge Institute for Continuing Education. Publisher Marketing: Incorporating interviews, research findings, and excerpts from romantic and erotic literature, lyrics, and film, "Sexual Attraction: The Psychology of Allure" explores a subject that is central to the human experience and highly relevant not only in personal, intimate interactions but also other relationships as well. Although the causes and effects of sexual attraction have been studied, sexual attraction itself--how we experience others in terms of their sexual attractiveness--remains a neglected, rarely researched topic. Scholar James Giles presents jargon-free information that is accessible and fascinating to the general reader as well as highly useful and informative to students and researchers in social psychology, sexology, sex and marital therapy, and relationship counseling. The book explores subjects such as how sexual attraction is fundamentally different from other forms of interpersonal attraction and how at the heart of sexual attraction lies the experience of allure--something that makes one feel helplessly drawn towards an intimate physical joining with the sexually attractive person. The allure of strangers, cross-sex friends, sexual friends ("friends with benefits"), and romantic partners are all addressed, revealing the often subtle heterosexual attraction that typically exists between males and females in all their relationships, including between those who are ostensibly "just friends."

Contributor Bio:  Giles, James JAMES GILES is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Guam.