#1959 - David Buss

Episode Timestamps

• 00:01:09

  Starting time

  • Dave is a psychologist trained at UC Berkeley, and he started studying human mating strategies after reading about evolutionary biology.
  • He highlights various theories of evolution, including Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness, Trivers' theory of parental investment, and Darwin's theory of sexual selection.
  • Darwin's theory of sexual selection focuses on qualities that lead to a mating advantage rather than those that lead to a survival advantage.
  • He identifies two causal pathways for mating advantage: intrasexual competition or same-sex competition, and intrasexual selection or preferential mate choice.
  • Dave discusses how intrasexual competition is more general and not necessarily physical battles.
  • He explains how intermingling between sexes influences preferential mate choice based on variability, heritability, and consensus.
  • Joe and Dave discuss peacocks' insane plumage and how it is linked to a health queue or the handicap hypothesis. They also mention turkeys having similar displays and the sex differences in our species when it comes to changing physical appearance.
• 00:02:36

  Starting time

  • Dave does empirical research where hypotheses are generated, predictions are made, and studies are done to see if the findings support the predictions.
  • He conducted some initial studies on human mate preferences.
  • He explains how Darwin's theory of sexual selection led to clear predictions that could be tested in humans.
  • Dave's research focuses on understanding mating strategies in humans, and he studies social psychology, personality psychology, evolutionary psychology, and clinical psychology.
• 00:13:08

  Sexual selection in humans

  • In humans, both males and females have preferential mate choice and compete with each other for access to desirable partners
  • Preferences differ for short-term vs long-term partners
  • Sexual selection operates within both sexes
• 00:15:11

  Why men pursue promiscuous women

  • Men are attracted to women who are hot and promiscuous because it allows them to spread their genetics without having to work too hard
  • Men are not consciously thinking about evolutionary logic when they find a woman attractive
  • Women also engage in short-term mating and affairs, despite the costs it may bring
  • The good genes dual mating strategy has been proposed as a reason for women engaging in affairs, but it could be flawed
• 00:31:49

  Men and Sexual Variety

  • Men have a higher desire for sexual variety, which leads them to pursue affairs.
  • There is a dramatic sex difference in the motivation for affairs, with desire for sexual variety driving most men into it.
• 00:35:19

  Dark Triad Traits and Infidelity

  • Personality and developmental characteristics are correlated with who is more likely to have an affair.
  • The dark triad traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy are good predictors of who is more likely to cheat.
  • Men tend to be higher on these traits, and they are also more attracted to financial resources and qualities that lead to them over time.
• 00:45:30

  Evolutionary Meta-Theory and Sex Differences

  • The speaker explains the concept of evolutionary meta-theory.
  • Male and female psychology are similar in domains where they face the same or similar problems.
  • Sex differences are found in domains where males and females face different adaptive challenges, such as in mate preferences due to reproductive biology.
• 00:47:25

  Paternity Uncertainty and Male Parental Investment

  • The speaker discusses the problem of paternity uncertainty and how it affects males.
  • Men have evolved adaptations, such as mate guarding, to address this problem.
  • Long-term high-investing males are rare in mammals, but the speaker points out that human males have evolved to invest more in their offspring.
• 00:57:16

  Violent end to the relationship

  • Paul Snyder killed Dorothy Stratton after their relationship failed
  • Relationship failed due to mate value discrepancy
  • Example of extreme case, but highlights the importance of mate value
• 00:58:37

  Sex differences in reproductive biology

  • Reproductive biology of men and women differ in several ways
  • Ancestral breastfeeding as a metabolic and energy cost
  • Sex differences correspond with sex differences in psychology, behavior, and mating strategies.
• 01:02:29

  Parental Concerns for Daughters' Mating Lives

  • Parents are a lot more restrictive about their daughter's sexuality and mating
  • This is due to the value of women as a reproductive resource
  • Daughter-guarding behaviors extend to all cultures
• 01:09:29

  Attachment Styles

  • There are three different attachment styles: securely attached, anxious attached and ambivalent attachment style
  • The securely attached have the lowest rates of infidelity
  • The avoidant attachment style is the most likely to engage in infidelity
• 01:15:22

  Social Media Impact on Dating Strategies

  • Instagram, Onlyfans, online dating apps and pornography are inputs into our mating psychology
  • Men who are repeatedly exposed to images of sexually attractive women decrease their commitment to their regular partner
  • There has been a diminution of romantic relationships, marriage and offspring production
• 01:21:20

  Pornography

  • Watching porn can have a detrimental effect on both women and men
  • What men see in porn creates sexual anxiety
  • Anxiety tends to cause people to avoid the things that they're anxious about, which of course is the worst thing that we can do
• 01:32:35

  Women's Mate Preferences and the Origin of Patriarchy

  • Women's mate preferences part of the causal chain that led to patriarchy
  • There is some discomfort in recognizing that women's preferences have contributed to an outcome they don't like in the current time
  • Infusing ideology into science is contradictory and has no place in science.
• 01:35:54

  Denialism of Sex Differences in Blank Slate Culture

  • The notion that people come into this world as blank slates makes no evolutionary sense
  • Humans are active strategists that pick and choose their beliefs and values
  • Sex differences are the most replicable and essential findings in psychology but are often denied from ideological perspectives.
• 01:37:56

  Replicable Sex Differences;

  • The sex differences are large and easily visible without running any statistical tests
  • Ideological denial of these differences is prevalent in mainstream media and social sciences
  • Empirical evidence will eventually prevail
• 01:47:03

  Transcending Ideological Denialism;

  • Current cultural climate denies basic biological and psychological differences between men and women
  • Transgender athletes competing against biological women is a result of this ideology
  • Ignoring sex differences in medicine can lead to negative medical outcomes
  • Espousal of ideology may stem from fear that any sex difference will be used against women Note: The text is not easily divisible into traditional chapter breaks, so the chapter breaks are based on thematic content.
• 01:50:50

  Women Outpacing Men in Education and the Imbalance in the Mating Market

  • Women are outpacing men in education in Western Europe, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
  • This results in a sex ratio imbalance in institutions like the University of Texas.
  • Women are more conscientious than men personality-wise, leading to better grades and college qualifications.
  • This trend, along with the sex difference in activities like online gaming and pornography, creates problems in the mating market.
• 01:57:42

  Pushback Against Sex Differences and Gender Equalitarianism Ideology

  • The speaker has debated people who promote social role theory, denying sex differences between men and women.
  • Research shows that sex differences are larger in gender egalitarian countries.
  • The rejection of this ideology by a significant body of research is not acknowledged by adherents.
  • The incentive to maintain this ideology is based on reputation, career, and self-preservation.
• 02:05:49

  Challenges in Studying Human Nature

  • The speaker discusses the difficulties in studying human nature objectively
  • They highlight the impact of personal psychology on understanding human behavior
  • The speaker mentions the challenges in changing reward structures to encourage acceptance of new data
  • They point out the self-correcting nature of science in theory, but the difficulty of achieving it in practice
• 02:07:39

  Ideological Interference in Science

  • The speaker highlights the negative impact of ideology on scientific research
  • They discuss the labeling of certain topics as sexist or misogynistic
  • The negative consequence of academics promoting non-reality-based ideas is highlighted
  • The impact of parent's investment in education is discussed
• 02:15:57

  Teaching Science

  • The speaker highlights their obligation to teach Science as a professor
  • The discussions about sex biology and differences are mentioned
  • The speaker discusses seeking assurance from the chair of the department before teaching
  • The importance of the free exchange of ideas and facts is highlighted Overall, the text can be divided into six chapters. The text lays stress on the challenges and impact of ideology on scientific research and the education system. It also brings focus on the importance of teaching facts and the free exchange of ideas.
• 02:18:59

  The Importance and Adaptations of the Mating Game

  • Our ancestors were successful in the mating game, allowing us to inherit their adaptations
  • Studying human mating is fascinating and critical
  • Mating affects everyone, even those who choose to opt out of the mating market
  • Successful mating allows for high levels of parental investment in offspring
• 02:25:33

  Social Manipulations and Psychological Denial

  • Our tribal instincts and coalitional psychology can affect our scientific beliefs
  • Many people deny science in the case of sex differences due to political ideology
  • Discrimination against women in the past has led to pushback against acknowledging sex differences
  • Younger generations are beginning to push back against this historical mindset
• 02:30:48

  Concerns about evolution of society and grifters getting involved.

  • Society is evolving in a good direction.
  • Concerns about grifters who try to acquire an exorbitant amount of praise and attention for their positions on things.
  • Self-promoters are being rewarded at the expense of scientists who are not good self-promoters.
• 02:33:57

  Importance of actual science and data in confusing times.

  • Joe and David agree that, especially in confusing times, it's important to hear the actual science and data behind things.
  • Having interesting conversations about science is important.
  • Joe and David appreciate each other and the conversation they had.