Macken Murphy is an evolutionary psychology researcher, PhD candidate, writer and podcaster who studies human attraction, mate choice and relationship dynamics.
If you’ve ever wondered what women actually prefer (versus what men think they prefer), why certain signals like artistry or status turn her on, or where having bigger muscles and more money stop paying off, Macken is one of the sharpest voices to listen to.
Expect to learn:
- Why James Bond is a male fantasy more than a female blueprint
- How men consistently overestimate the ideal level of masculinity
- The real thresholds where personality beats looks
- How age shifts preferences for beards and grooming
- The green flags that predict long-term stability beyond body count, such as how family history and education correlate with divorce risk
- And much more...
Timestamps:
00:00 – Is James Bond actually attractive to women?
01:59 – Men’s misconceptions about “ideal” masculinity
03:53 – Muscles, beards & facial masculinity: finding the sweet spot
05:35 – How muscular is “most attractive” in real life?
08:27 – Niche looks: fewer rivals, stronger appeal
11:48 – Age effects: why younger women prefer clean-shaven
13:06 – Boxing vs guitar: hobbies that signal mate value
16:00 – Artistry as a mating signal (peacocks & pop stars)
19:40 – Fame, status, and exposure effects
20:05 – Wealth & hypergamy: where returns diminish
22:44 – Thresholds: when personality beats looks
27:43 – Assortative mating: dating within your “league”
30:00 – Dating up short-term vs long-term commitment
33:39 – Should men “lower standards”? Social stability debate
35:52 – Ferrari analogy: recalibrating expectations
37:04 – Two anxieties: situationships & “I’m not the Ferrari”
39:52 – Body count discourse and what it really signals
49:33 – Never being dumped: selectivity & ethics in dating
54:36 – What sparks romantic love beyond looks & money
57:38 – Men underestimate women’s ambition/education
1:00:35 – Why successful people pair with successful people
1:03:29 – Green flags for marriage success (beyond body count)
1:04:31 – Family history & the heritability of divorce
1:08:25 – Do higher-earning men divorce less—and why?
1:11:19 – Why couples often “look alike”
1:14:52 – Where to follow Macken
1:16:04 – Book rec: When Men Behave Badly
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