Leading evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss provides a unified new theory of sexual conflict and shows how its battles play out in the barroom, the bedroom and the boardroom.

'Offers a wide-ranging account of the origins of human sexual behaviour and its modern manifestations, helping to make sense of so many troubling behaviours. Insightful and provocative' Nicholas Christakis, author of Blueprint

Sexual conflict permeates ancient religions and is etched in written laws that dictate who can and cannot have sex with whom. Its manifestations shape our sexual morality and produce sexual double standards that flourish even in the most egalitarian cultures on earth. And although every person alive struggles with sexual conflict, most of us see only the tip of the iceberg: dating deception, a politician's unsavoury grab, the slow crumbling of a once-happy marriage, a romantic breakup that turns nasty.

This 'battle of the sexes' is far more pervasive than anyone has recognised and has deeply hidden evolutionary roots. Providing novel insights into our minds and behaviours, Bad Men presents a unifying new theory of sexual conflict and offers practical advice for men and women seeking to avoid it.

David M. Buss is professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of several books, including The Evolution of Desire, The Dangerous Passion, The Murderer Next Door and Why Women Have Sex (co-authored with Dr. Cindy Meston). He has received numerous awards and has been cited as one of the fifty most influential psychologists in the world.

Sexual conflict permeates ancient religions, from injunctions about thy neighbor's wife to the sexual obligations of marriage. It is etched in written laws that dictate who can and cannot have sex with whom. Its manifestations shape our sexual morality, evoking approving accolades or contemptuous condemnation. It produces sexual double standards that flourish even in the most sexually egalitarian cultures on earth. And although every person alive struggles with sexual conflict, most of us see only the tip of the iceberg: dating deception, a politician's unsavory grab, the slow crumbling of a once-happy marriage, a romantic breakup that turns nasty.

Bad Men shows that this "battle of the sexes" is deeper and far more pervasive than anyone has recognized, revealing the hidden roots of sexual conflict -- roots that originated over deep evolutionary time -- which characterise our sexual psychology. Providing novel insights into our minds and behaviours, Bad Men presents a unifying new theory of sexual conflict and offers practical advice for men and women seeking to avoid it.