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by Jennifer L. Verdolin (Author)
Wild Kingdom meets Sex and the City in this scientific perspective on dating and relationships.A specialist in animal behavior compares the courtship rituals and mating behaviors of animals to their human equivalents, revealing the many and often surprising ways we are both similar to and different from other species.What makes an individual attractive to the opposite sex? Does size matter? Why do we tend to "keep score" in our relationships? From perfume and cosmetics to online dating and therapy, our ultimate goal is to successfully connect with someone. So why is romance such an effort for humans, while animals have little trouble getting it right?Wild Connection is full of fascinating and suggestive observations about animal behavior. For example, in most species smell is an important component of determining compatibility. So are we humans doing the right thing by masking our natural scents with soaps and colognes? Royal albatrosses have a lengthy courtship period lasting several years. These birds instinctively know that casual hook-ups are not the way to find a reliable mate. And older female chimpanzees often mate with younger males. Is this the evolutionary basis of the human "cougar" phenomenon?Fun to read as well as educational, this unique take on the perennial human quest to find the ideal mate shows that we have much to learn from our cousins in the wild.
Author Biography
Dr. Jennifer L. Verdolin, an expert in animal behavior, is currently a research scientist affiliated with the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (Duke University) in Durham, NC, where she studies lemur personality and social behavior. In addition to publishing in peer-reviewed journals, she has written for Scientific American, has her own Psychology Today blog called Wild Connections, and has a weekly segment on the DL Hughley Show called "Think Like a Human, Act Like an Animal." Visit her online at www.jenniferverdolin.com and on Twitter @JVerdolin.
