
Evolutionary Psychology (the podcast) Polygamy with Brooke Scelza
Nov 18, 2025
01:51:22
Are humans designed to be monogamous? Polygamous? In this episode, we talk to Brooke Scelza (UCLA) about her work with the Himba and the complex web of social norms at play in that society and what it can teach us about our evolved psychology. Other topics include parental investment, the state of cross-talk between evolutionary anthropology and psychology, and the sometimes perverse incentives in science and the resulting replication crisis. If you think you do (or do not) understand mating markets and social norms, then this episode is for you.
More about Brooke Schelza:
https://anthro.ucla.edu/person/brooke-scelza/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=v8E5934AAAAJ&hl=en
