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Behavioural Psychologist: We're Not Having Enough Sex! Fat Makes You Attractive & The Poorer You Are The Friendlier You Are!

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Feb 17, 2025

Guest

Bill von Hippel

Dr. Bill von Hippel, a social psychologist and professor at the University of Queensland, dives into the quirks of human behavior shaped by evolution. He discusses why high-achieving women face challenges in love and suggests that humor is a key trait of attraction. The conversation explores how wealth impacts social skills and why poorer individuals tend to be friendlier. Bill also raises alarms about declining birth rates and questions if we're at risk of extinction due to diminished sexual activity, offering insights into modern dating dynamics influenced by technology.

01:56:53

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insights

INSIGHT

Dating Apps Hinder Genuine Connection

Dating apps, while offering many choices, hinder genuine connection by prioritizing superficial qualities.
Women on these apps often receive many swipes, but struggle to find men they genuinely connect with, while many men receive few swipes.

insights

INSIGHT

Less Sex, More Porn

Young people are having less sex and watching more pornography.
This may be due to "smilching" (social media-induced laziness), where virtual connections replace real-life interactions.

insights

INSIGHT

Evolution and Declining Fertility

Declining fertility rates are linked to the fact that humans evolved to desire sex, not children.
Modern contraceptives decouple sex from reproduction, leading to lower birth rates in industrialized nations.

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Happiness: A Hunter-Gatherer Perspective

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Attraction Dynamics: Evolution and Modern Dating

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Digital Influence on Modern Relationships

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The Intersection of Happiness, Relationships, and Neurodivergence

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Exploring Human Nature: Technology, Emotion, and Connection

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Primate Communication and Animal Instincts

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The True Path to Happiness: Experiences vs. Things

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The Importance of Family and Connections for Happiness

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Exploring the Impact of Exercise on Health Behaviors

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The Interplay of Exercise, Diet, and Well-Being

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Reconnecting in a Disconnected World

01:53:19 • 4min

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#8049

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

The Social Leap

The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come From, and What Makes Us Happy

Bill von Hippel

In 'The Social Leap,' William von Hippel presents a revolutionary hypothesis that explains how three critical evolutionary inflection points have shaped human development. The book blends anthropology, biology, history, and psychology to provide insights into why we exaggerate, believe our own lies, and how fame and fortune can bring misery as well as happiness. It argues that the 'social leap' from individualism to collectivism on the savannah fundamentally altered aspects of our lives, including leadership, innovation, aggression, and happiness. The book offers a fresh perspective on human psychology and provides clues on how to improve our lives by understanding our evolutionary past.

#6522

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Social Paradox

Autonomy, Connection, and Why We Need Both

William Von Hippel

In 'The Social Paradox', psychologist William von Hippel argues that the modern world's emphasis on autonomy over connection has led to a significant imbalance in our lives. He explains that evolution instilled in us a strong need to connect with others for survival and a need for autonomy to distinguish ourselves within groups. However, today's world provides endless opportunities for autonomy but neglects the need for connection, resulting in widespread unhappiness and unfulfillment. Von Hippel suggests that recognizing and addressing this imbalance can drastically change how we make decisions, spend our time, and find happiness. The book invites readers to reexamine the fundamental building blocks of life and society, such as politics, religion, urban living, and marriage, to counteract the emptiness and loneliness of contemporary life.

#4650

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Unweaving the Rainbow

Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder

Richard Dawkins

In 'Unweaving the Rainbow', Richard Dawkins addresses the notion that scientific explanations destroy the beauty and wonder of natural phenomena. He counters this idea, particularly the criticism by John Keats that Newton's explanation of the rainbow diminished its poetry. Dawkins demonstrates how scientific understanding can actually increase our appreciation and wonder for the world. The book covers a wide range of scientific topics, including astronomy, genetics, and the perception of light and sound, showing how these explanations are more beautiful and inspiring than the myths and legends they replace.

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The 48 laws of power

Robert Greene

In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.

Are we fighting against our own biology? Dr Bill von Hippel reveals how evolutionary psychology impacts love, success, and happiness.

Dr Bill von Hippel is a renowned social psychologist, evolutionary specialist, and Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland. He is the author of books such as, ‘The Social Leap: The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come From, and What Makes Us Happy’.

In this conversation, Dr Bill and Steven discuss topics such as, why high-achieving women struggle to find love, the top trait that makes you more attractive, the link between your wealth and social skills, and the future impact of falling birth rates.

00:00 Intro

02:21 What Does Dr. Von Hippel Do?

05:35 What Are We Getting Wrong as a Species?

09:01 Were Our Ancestors Happier Than Us?

12:45 Are We Forgetting to Be Grateful?

15:10 What Is the Price We Pay for Living in Cities?

17:07 Does Money Make You Happy?

18:03 What Is the Perfect Combination to Achieve Happiness?

20:56 How to Be Attractive

23:08 Why Is Humor an Attractive Trait?

24:11 Do Nice Guys Finish Last?

24:55 What Makes a Woman Attractive?

26:10 Is Attraction an Evolutionary or Social Construct?

27:22 Do Men Care If Women Are Rich?

29:09 Evolution and Homosexuality

31:40 The Economic Mismatch in Finding a Partner

34:52 What Tinder Tells Us About Matchmaking

37:06 What Are Dating Apps Like for Women?

39:59 What Is Pornography Doing to Us?

43:19 Are Populations Declining?

46:24 Are We at Risk of Extinction Due to Lack of Sex?

46:56 How Bill Would Encourage People to Have Children Again

49:11 Robots Raising Our Kids

52:44 Robot Experiments on Monkeys

53:27 Marriage and Happiness

56:33 Ads

57:28 Is There an Evolutionary Basis for ADHD and Neurodivergence?

59:57 Will There Be Less Neurodivergence With AI Development?

1:00:17 Will We Merge With Technology?

1:01:19 What Is the Evolutionary Basis for Depression and Anxiety?

1:02:53 Religion and Its Effect on Happiness

1:05:56 Why Do We Want to Believe in Something?

1:06:58 What Is the Meaning of Life?

1:10:07 How We Band Together in Tough Times Against Others

1:11:54 What Bill Knows About Power in Evolutionary Terms

1:12:53 What Is Powerful Body Language?

1:14:29 What Designer Brands Say About You

1:15:18 What Bill Learned About the Hadza Tribe and Living a Happy Life

1:17:06 Who Needs Each Other More, Men or Women?

1:19:06 Are We Meant to Be Monogamous?

1:20:22 Is Cheating Natural?

1:26:12 Ads

1:28:12 What's the Problem With Money?

1:30:53 The Benefits of Doing These 5 Things

1:34:04 What Is the Cost?

1:38:38 New Findings on Exercise and Unhealthy Habits

1:43:45 Do We All Need the Same Amount of Sleep?

1:48:44 Coffee's Impact on Our Bodies

1:49:12 How Can We Be More Social?

1:51:43 How Would You Save Humanity?

Follow Dr Bill:

Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/aLJcqJMR0Qb

Twitter - https://x.com/BillvonHippel

Research document:

https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/DOAC-Bill-Von-Hippel-Independent-research-further-reading.pdf

You can pre-order Dr Bill’s book, ‘The Social Paradox: Autonomy, Connection, and Why We Need Both to Find Happiness’, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/pRZgxqRR0Qb

Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACEpisodes

My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' is out now - https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACBook

You can purchase the The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: Second Edition, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb

Follow me:

https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb

Sponsors:

Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett

WHOOP - https://JOIN.WHOOP.COM/CEO

PerfectTed - https://www.perfectted.com with code DIARY40 for 40% off

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