What Is the Evolutionary Purpose of Female Orgasm? with Robert King | Quillette Cetera Ep. 56
Evolutionary psychologist Robert King joins Quillette to discuss the science of female orgasm, human sexual behaviour, and insights from his book Naturally Selective.
Zoe Booth speaks with Robert King, a psychology lecturer and researcher at University College Cork, whose work explores human sexual behaviour through the lens of evolutionary psychology and behavioural ecology.
Their conversation centres on the evolution of female orgasm—its potential adaptive significance, its neglect within scientific literature, and the cultural forces that continue to shape women’s sexual experiences. King discusses the use of animal models in studying human sexuality, the neurobiological mechanisms behind pleasure, and why evolutionary frameworks are still resisted in mainstream discourse.
The discussion ranges widely, touching on female–female competition, the contested status of female ejaculation in both science and society, and the moral panic that often greets biological explanations for sex differences. Throughout, King makes the case for a more honest, curiosity-driven approach to understanding female behaviour—one that neither denies biology nor reduces it to determinism.
His book Naturally Selective: Evolution, Orgasm, and Female Choice is available in paperback, hardcover or Kindle.
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