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Modern Wisdom

#520 - Robin Dunbar - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Love

Sep 1, 2022
Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist from Oxford, dives deep into the essence of love and its evolutionary roots. He discusses why love is integral to our survival, revealing that humans may need more sex than other animals to reproduce. Intriguingly, he explains how finger length can indicate promiscuity and explores the differences in mating practices across cultures. Dunbar also tackles the complexities of love in arranged marriages and highlights the role of female coalitions in parenting, redefining traditional views on relationships.
01:36:54

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Quick takeaways

  • Love is an adaptive emotion crucial for forming bonds and ensuring protection in social groups.
  • Finger length ratios correlate with promiscuity, revealing insights into behavioral tendencies influenced by fetal testosterone levels.

Deep dives

Evolution of Love and Pair Bonding

The podcast delves into the adaptive nature of love, discussing how human emotions like love have evolved over time. It explores the concept of pair bonding and the reasons behind the intense feeling of love, suggesting that females have historically played a crucial role in mate choice and forming bonds to ensure protection in social groups.

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