Bi7861 Anthropology of sexuality I

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Adela Hupková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Tue 11:00–12:50 Bp1,01007
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in human anatomy and physiology.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course brings an overview of findings on human sexuality and the intersections between biological, social and cultural aspects which influence it.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
describe primary sex determination and sexual differentiation;
discuss sex in man as a hierarchically classified system: genetic, gonadal, genital, somatic, psychosocial and registry sex;
state the main phases of postnatal sexual development, especially in puberty;
classify menstrual cycle in woman from the reproductive functions viewpoint;
explain the nature of the human sexual dimorphism in appearance and behavior.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: History of sexuality research, anthropology of sexuality, basic terms - 16/9 MK
  • 2. General biology of sexuality, evolution, behaviour, physiology - 23/9 MK
  • 3. Sexual differentiation, prenatal sexual development, birth - 30/9 AH
  • 4. Postnatal sexual development, childhood, puberty and adolescence - 7/10 AH
  • 5. Sexual dimorphism - 14/10 AH
  • 6. Menstrual cycle and its associations - 21/10 AH
  • 7. Sex ratio and its associations - 4/11 MK
  • 8. Brain, behavior, sexual orientation and identity - 11/11 MK
  • 9. Sociosexuality - 18/11 MK
  • 10. Sexuality in sensu stricto, sperm competition - 25/11 MK
  • 11. Sexual selection, human mate choice - 2/12 AH
  • 12. Marriage, family, household - 9/12 AH
  • 13. Cultural diversity of human sexuality - 16/12 AH
Literature
  • Buss D. (2003): Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind. Allyn and Bacon.
  • VANČATA, Václav; Marina VANČATOVÁ and Jaroslav MALINA. Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie 10: Sexualita primátů. Editor: Jaroslav Malina. Brno (CZ): Nadace Universitas Masarykiana v Brně, nakladatelství a vydavatelství Nauma v Brně, 2002, 92 pp. Modulové učební texty pro studenty antropologie. ISBN 80-210-2865-3. info
  • ZVĚŘINA, Jaroslav and Jaroslav MALINA. Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie : modulové učební texty pro studenty antropologie a "příbuzných" oborů. 5, Sexuologie pro antropology. Edited by Jaroslav Malina. Brno: Nadace Universitas Masarykiana, 2002, 68 s. ISBN 80-210-2822-X. info
  • MALINA, Jaroslav and A KOLEKTIV. Kruh prstenu (Světové dějiny sexuality, erotiky a lásky od počátků do současnosti v reálném životě, krásné literatuře, výtvarném umění a dílech českých malířů a sochařů inspirovaných obsahem této knihy). Brno: Nadace Universitas Masarykiana, Masarykova univerzita v Brně, Nakladatelství a vydavatelství NAUMA Brno, 2003. info
  • SKUPNIK, Jaroslav and Jaroslav MALINA. Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie 7: Manželství a sexualita z antropologické perspektivy. Editor: Jaroslav Malina. Brno (CZ): Nadace Universitas Masarykiana v Brně, nakladatelství a vydavatelství Nauma v Brně, 2002, 76 pp. Modulové učební texty pro studenty antropologie. ISBN 80-210-2840-8. info
  • Darwin C.R. (2005): O pohlavním výběru. Academia, Praha (český překlad části originální práce Descent of man and selection in relation to sex).
  • Haig D. (2004): The Inexorable Rise of Gender and the Decline of Sex: Social Change in Academic Titles, 1945–2001. Archives of Sexual Behavior 33(2): 87–96.
  • Dunbar, R. I. M., & Shultz, S. (2007). Evolution in the Social Brain. Science, 317(5843), 1344–1347. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1145463
  • Blecher S.R., Erickson R.P. (2007): Genetics of Sexual Development: A New Paradigm. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A 143A: 3054-3068.
  • Badyaev A.V. (2002): Growing apart: an ontogenetic perspective on the evolution of sexual size dimorphism. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 17(8): 369–378.
  • Arnold, A.P. (2017), A general theory of sexual differentiation. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 95: 291-300. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23884
  • Mendle J., Turkheimer E., D'Onofrio B.M., Lynch S.K., Emery R.E., Slutske W.S., Martin N.G. (2006): Family structure and age at menarche: a children-of-twins approach. Dev Psychol 42(3): 533–542.
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in form of lectures, complemented with commented multimedial presentations (video etc.).
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with an oral exam. Before the student can take the exam, it is required that he/she passes a written test. To pass the exam successfully the student must prove good knowledge of the issues discussed during lectures and in the required reading.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
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