Summary
Havelock Ellis’s monumental series Studies in the Psychology of Sex (1897–1928) sought to examine human sexuality scientifically and culturally.
Volume 4: Sexual Selection in Man explores how attraction, courtship, and mating behaviors are shaped by both biology and social convention.
Ellis investigates topics such as the psychology of modesty, the significance of touch, the aesthetics of physical beauty, and the role of love in human relationships.
He blends evolutionary theory with cultural anthropology, showing how sexual attraction is influenced not only by instinct but also by art, literature, and societal ideals.
While reflecting the biases of his time, this volume attempts to bridge science and human experience, treating love and sexual attraction as complex forces at the heart of human identity.