Warriors and Worriers: The Survival of the Sexes

In this specialized book, developmental psychologist Benenson jumps into the longstanding debate concerning nature vs. nurture in the sexes to offer a theory of her own. Drawing on personal research and observations, Benenson argues that men inherently possess the traits of "warriors"%E2%80%94those who are genetically prepared for warfare as a means of survival%E2%80%94while women are natural "worriers," and have been genetically programmed during evolution to place their own (as well as their family's) wellbeing above all else in order to survive. While Benenson's basic thesis isn't particularly progressive, she does manage to add weight to her theory by raising a number of interesting points regarding male and female behavior. Unfortunately, societal influence is not addressed here as much as one would expect and when it is, the authors do so on unsatisfying terms. While well-researched, Benenson's book doesn't provide citations to support her generalizations, rendering aspects of her arguments unconvincing. Best suited for other scientists within the field, Benenson's study will not likely offer much to laymen and women who will be hard-pressed to determine whether or not her arguments are of substance. (Mar.)