In this engaging chat, Robin Dunbar, a biological anthropologist and the mind behind Dunbar's number, dissects the intricate web of human relationships. He reveals that we can maintain around 150 meaningful connections, exploring how this impacts not just personal lives but also organizational dynamics. Dunbar discusses the importance of face-to-face interactions over virtual ones and the role of social activities like laughter in bonding. He highlights the challenges of modern loneliness and underscores time management as essential for fostering trust and relationships in leadership.

Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar discusses the power of friendship, the loneliness epidemic, oxytocin and endorphins, new data sources in social networks, the discovery of Dunbar's number, the seven pillars of friendship, and why friendships end.

Are there forces at work that might impact the way work feels? Could we use those forces to make work better?This discussion with Robin Dunbar and Tracey Camilleri took me to places I hadn't expected to go. That hormones, our brains and time would play a part in the relationships we forge at work isn't something that you would expect to find in a company's culture document, but as you'll hear today they forge a vital component of better team work.Hormones are triggered by emotional interactions with other humans. Uniquely they only tend to work face-to-face. Hormones can help us build affinity with others in a powerful way that is often overlooked.Brain-size impacts the connections we have with those people. At the core of human experience is our closest one (or two) relationships. There’s a small circle of 4 or 5 people who sit at the heart of our lives, and up to 15 who make up the majority of our time.And that time is critical for the strength of those connections. We spent 40% of our time with our 5 closest relationships, and 60% with the top 15. By spending time we can become close friends with people in our lives.The Social Brain by Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey and Robin Dunbar is out now. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/eatsleepworkrepeat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at Oxford, discusses the essential nature of friendships in our lives. He reveals his concept of Dunbar's number—about 150 meaningful relationships our brains can manage. The conversation explores the impact of social media on friendships, offers insights on the evolutionary significance of social bonds, and highlights the physiological benefits of friendships. With practical tips, Dunbar emphasizes the importance of nurturing connections and addresses the growing loneliness in today’s society.

Why are most humans religious? How much can be explained by evolutionary psychology? Why do we cooperate? Is it religious injunctions or more emotional? Is religiosity really about cooperation? What about legitimising hierarchy, control, and female self-sacrifice. Muslim women are less likely to go to Friday prayers, but they are still devout. So perhaps group rituals are not so essential? Why did all doctrinal religions emerge within a narrow latitudinal band? Are groups necessarily small? Don’t films and social media scale-up solidarity? What about online mobs viciously attacking their favoured celebrity’s boyfriend’s new girlfriend? Interview with Professor Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Oxford https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/people/robin-dunbar Robin's latest book is on Religion. He has also published excellent books on the science of love and betrayal; the evolution of language; and friendships.

Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist from the University of Oxford, dives into the intricate world of human friendships. He explains why group sizes over 90 can lead to more deaths than births. Discover the surprising differences between male and female friendships, and how the rise of modern loneliness is impacting our health. Dunbar connects brain size to social structures and shares intriguing insights on how friendships have evolved from hunter-gatherer societies to our current social dynamics.

Guest Robin Dunbar, an Oxford evolutionary psychologist, discusses the dynamics of friendship, including Dunbar's Number and threshold group sizes. They explore the impact of social media on friendships, cultural variations in friendship perceptions, and the importance of rituals in maintaining relationships.

The author and screenwriter Max Dickins was preparing to propose to his girlfriend when he came to a realisation: he didn’t have anyone he felt he could ask to be his best man. It prompted him to write the book ‘Billy No-Mates’, looking at why he didn’t have any close male friends any more, and asking if men, in general, have a friendship problem.In a special discussion in front of a live audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival, Claudia Hammond speaks to Max about his journey alongside Professor Robin Dunbar and Dr Radha Modgil.Robin Dunbar is a Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at Oxford University who’s spent decades researching friendships in humans and other primates. He’s also known for having Dunbar’s Number named after him, which suggests most of us have a limit to our social circles of around 150 people.Radha Modgil is a practicing GP and wellbeing expert whose book ‘Know Your Own Power’ looks at what advice there is for people facing difficulties as they go through life.The panel look at what psychology can teach us about friendships between men, the difference these relationships can make to our mental health, and the best way of both maintaining the friendships we have and finding ways to make new friends.Produced in partnership with the Open University. Producer: Dan Welsh

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.

Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of evolutionary psychology at Oxford, delves into his famous theory, Dunbar's Number, explaining that humans thrive in around 150 meaningful relationships. He emphasizes the crucial role of face-to-face interactions for creativity and team cohesion, especially in today’s hybrid work environment. Joined by Sophie McBain, they explore how cultivating social connections can enhance workplace belonging and boost employee well-being, while discussing the challenges organizations face in fostering these essential relationships.