David Buss

David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist at UT Austin and a pioneer in evolutionary psychology, discusses the complexities of human relationships and mating strategies. He dives into the biological influences on attraction, jealousy, and infidelity. Buss examines how gender dynamics shape societal behavior and the myriad motivations behind female sexuality. The conversation also touches on toxic relationships, arranged marriages, and the psychological profiles of individuals affected by societal pressures, blending humor with profound insights into human nature.

Dr. David Buss, a leading expert in evolutionary psychology and professor at the University of Texas, dives into the intricacies of human mating strategies. He highlights the influence of female choice and dominance hierarchies on attraction. The conversation also explores the dark triad traits, their appeal, and their potential consequences in relationships. Buss discusses societal structures affecting aggression and mating dynamics, alongside the complexities of status and competence in social hierarchies. This dialogue uncovers both the light and dark sides of human nature.

In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with David Buss about the differential mating strategies of men and women. They discuss the controversy that surrounds evolutionary psychology, the denial of sex differences, cross-cultural findings in social science, the replication crisis in psychology, the biological definition of sex, why men and women have affairs, ovulatory shifts in mate preference, sex differences in jealousy and infidelity, the sources of unhappiness in marriage, mate-value discrepancies, what we can learn from dating apps, polyamory and polygamy, the plight of stepchildren, the “Dark Triad” personality type, the MeToo movement, and other topics. David Buss is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Buss previously taught at Harvard University and the University of Michigan. He is considered the world’s leading scientific expert on strategies of human mating and one of the founders of the field of evolutionary psychology. His books include The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating; Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind, The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex, The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill, and Why Women Have Sex (with Cindy Meston). His new book When Men Behave Badly: The Hidden Roots of Sexual Deception, Harassment, and Assault uncovers the evolutionary roots of conflict between the sexes. Buss has more than 300 scientific publications. In 2019, he was cited as one of the 50 most influential living psychologists in the world. Website: davidbuss.com Twitter: @ProfDavidBuss    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.

Explore the role of status in human societies through an evolutionary lens with Dr. David Buss. Unmask dark triad traits and navigate interactions for financial success. Analyze warning signs in business partners and explore genetics' influence on personality traits. Discover psychological biases in marketing strategies and the power of honesty in marketing. Target niche audiences for successful products and balance rewards and punishments in marketing. Embrace simplicity and clarity in marketing strategies and analyze competitors for website design. Explore sexual dimorphism in species and the power of advertising intuition.

David Buss, a leading expert in evolutionary psychology and author of "When Men Behave Badly," dives into the intriguing dynamics of human relationships. He discusses how male and female reproductive interests often conflict, particularly influenced by alcohol’s impact on women’s bonding. Buss explores the Dark Triad traits that drive men’s cheating and highlights how women signal openness to short-term relationships. He unpacks the complex motivations behind infidelity, emphasizing the need for understanding gender differences in sexual psychology.