Media: News and Reviews

Announcement: Replacing Freud (New Book by Virginia Colin)

In a seminar at MWM's Regional Gathering in January, Virginia Colin summarized her views on human attachment theory. Following her talk, several people asked when the book would be available.

The wait is over. McGraw-Hill has released Dr. Colin's new work, Human Attachment, a comprehensive introduction to attachment theory and related research.

In the 1960s, John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and colleagues studied human infants and mothers the way ethologists study the social behavior of other species. They developed attachment theory. Numerous psychologists have since conducted hundreds of scientific studies to test hypotheses derived from attachment theory. Drawing on ethology, cognitive psychology, control systems theory, and psychoanalysis, this theory is the best science can currently offer for explaining deeply meaningful aspects of personality development and intimate relationships.

Human Attachment includes chapters about research methods, determinants of early patterns of attachment, cultural variations, fathers, maternal employment, early intervention, cognitive representations of relationships, correlates and sequelae of secure and insecure patterns of attachment, and adolescent and adult attachments.

To obtain a copy inexpensively, call McGraw-Hill at 1-800-338-3987. Contact Dr. Colin at vcolin@erols.com or phone 301-292-7327.

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Book Review: New Male Sexuality

The New Male Sexuality: The Truth About Men, Sex, and Pleasure. By Bernie Zilbergeld, Ph.D., published by Bantam Books (1992); 624 pages; $6.99 softcover. Reviewed by Chris Ketcham.

I found a copy of the original (1978) version of Male Sexuality in a used bookstore on Guadelupe (near the University) in Austin, Texas. The quote inside the cover hooked me: "Men have been duped about sex." "YES!" I thought, "I've known several men who initially thought I expected performance from them that, in truth, wasn't important to me." After beginning the book, I looked for others written by Dr. Zilbergeld, and discovered the updated version.

One excellent section of The New Male Sexuality debunks common myths. My personal unfavorite concepts are: "Sex is centered on a hard penis and what is done with it," "Sex equals intercourse," and "Good sex requires orgasm." Dr. Zilbergeld discusses and discredits these and other ideas that live in our imaginations, replacing them with realistic information. Recognizing that our cultural socialization emphasizes beauty, youth, and slenderness, he focuses instead on "how to make and keep sex enjoyable as we and our relationships age."

What makes sex good? What keeps it enjoyable? An honest relationship with your partner. This book encourages communication and includes examples of how a man can talk with a woman about a variety of subjects, sex included. You can find more pointers on communication in the chapter entitled "How to Be a Better Listener."

Dealing with the physical aspects of sex, there are over 100 pages of advice on resolving problems. And, looking to the next generation, the book has a very insightful, sensitive chapter, "What You Can Do for Your Son."

The New Male Sexuality, with its appendix ("Prescription Drugs with Adverse Effects on Male Sexual Function"), thorough footnotes, and index, is an invaluable resource and guidebook for men and women of all ages. It's informative and radically honest.

I highly recommend it.

Chris Ketcham, M.Ed., manages a software documentation department to pay the mortgage, holds a Missionary Position in the Radical Honesty therapeutic network, and is rearing a 13-yr. old son with the help of friends. She is bisexual. Direct comments/questions to her at PO Box 191, Alexandria, VA 22313.

Other books for or about men from the World Wide Web Virtual Library.

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