Helen Fisher
Podcast 2015-06-22

Why We Love, Lust, and Live with Helen Fisher

with Helen Fisher

A leader in the psychology of human mating, and an expert on both the cultural and biological foundations of love, Helen Fisher shares science-backed information on attraction, mate selection, infidelity, the neuroscience of love and the effects of culture on our biology. There’s a wealth of interesting facts here and some surprising insight into humanity’s […]

Episode Details

Show Notes

A leader in the psychology of human mating, and an expert on both the cultural and biological foundations of love, Helen Fisher shares science-backed information on attraction, mate selection, infidelity, the neuroscience of love and the effects of culture on our biology. There’s a wealth of interesting facts here and some surprising insight into humanity’s quest for romance. We LOVED this episode!

In this episode you will hear about:

  • Critical factors that influence love and attraction
  • The biological patterns of partner choice
  • Some of the major reasons behind the prevalence of infidelity
  • The neuroscience of love
  • How our brain’s architecture allows us to love more than one person at once
  • Why we refer to it as “falling” in love
  • How Bill Clinton was our first “female” president
  • Some psychological truths about our modern hookup culture
  • Four patterns of mate pairing
  • The role of fetishes
  • The genetic basis for stability in relationships
  • Sex differences in sexual/romantic rejection.
  • Helen’s experience as an identical twin and her opinions on nature vs. nurture
  • The role of culture in changing our biology

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Resources: 

“Helen Fisher, PhD Biological Anthropologist, is a Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute, member of the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies in the Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Internet dating site Match.com. She has conducted extensive research and written five books on the evolution and future of human sex, love, marriage, gender differences in the brain and how your personality style shapes who you are and who you love.” -Blurb taken from helenfisher.com

Seven core insights

What 11 years of conversation
revealed

  • 01
    Being over DoingThe richness of presence and inner life over constant productivity.
  • 02
    Creativity over EfficiencyMaking space for imagination and originality in a world that prizes optimization.
  • 03
    Self-Actualization over AchievementBecoming the fullest version of yourself, not just reaching the next milestone.
  • 04
    Deep Fulfillment over HappinessPursuing meaning and depth rather than fleeting positive feelings.
  • 05
    Self-TranscendenceGoing beyond the self to serve something larger — the highest expression of human potential.
  • 06
    Meaning & CompassionThe threads that run through every great conversation — purpose, connection, and care.
  • 07
    Human PossibilityThe unwavering belief that every mind is capable of far more than we’ve been told.

About the guest

Helen Fisher

Helen Fisher

Podcast Guest

Keep exploring

11 years of
human possibility

478 episodes exploring creativity, intelligence, well-being, and what it means to be fully human. The archive is yours to explore.