Beat Your Genes: An Evolutionary Psychology Podcast For Finding Happiness In The Modern World

In this show, we discuss showing weakness as a sexual strategy, then we move to a question about dominance hierarchies vs. competence hierarchy (is there a difference?).  Next question is about the mixed perceptions of evolutionary psychology.   Finally, Dr. Lisle then takes some time to discuss elements of the ego trap.   The questions are as follows: 1.  Do you think there are situations where a man showing weakness to a woman can be positive? Can women get away with it easily, or weakness also a signal of sexual interest when it comes to them? 2.Some people seem to be so driven to compete and rise to the top, however their internal audience is constantly asking them, “are you sure you’re not being too dominant? Is this step up worth it?”, either directly or indirectly in the form of general stress. Emotional stability seems to be a huge component in how this plays out on an individual basis.  I’d be curious if you think this competence/dominance inner battle is part of what plays into the pleasure trap. 3.

Dr. Lisle goes in depth about why nature has selected for subjective experiences.  The question is as follows: What is your take on why a subjective experience would have been selected for, as opposed to animals simply being like machines with no subjective experience inside?  More importantly, what is your take on how a subjective experience can possibly be created in the mind? How could neurons firing create a personal experience? Next, he tackles this broad few questions: Why were we given the intellectual capacity to overshoot our evolutionary advantage and create inventions that cause our demise?  Why would our minds become so advanced to create a world where we live with and around multiple pleasure traps daily, where even the strictest, most conscientious of us will fall prey to decision fatigue and give in to a few of these traps, thus affecting our happiness? Why do they have the capacity to do this? It seems as though we would have been happier animals as a species with a little less intellect.

Questions tonight are as follows: Can you please talk about the relationship between money and self-esteem and how to learn to enjoy the money one makes? If women in one's social circles, acquaintances, friends, etc. seem receptive to casual mating, should we go for it without much worry, or is it bound to lead to future problems with them and the group? Why does it appear that people make so much up? (at least on TV when asked questions) Am I the oddball for feeling that when you've known someone for a long time, that means something? Is it because I'm low in openness and introverted?

A recent study published in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology* attempts to tackle understanding the stress of decision making.  Nate G goes over the article and Dr. Lisle offers his take.  Can the stress of decision making be explained solely by the personality trait conscientiousness?   Dr. Lisle and Nate discuss.    The next topic stems from a listener's question:  "Can we choose who we want the most esteem from?  Is there a way I can care less about the esteem from some people? It is sometimes exhausting to try to please everyone."   *PDF of the JPSP article : http://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/mayarossignacmilon/files/2018/08/Chen.Rossignac-Milon.Higgins.JPSP_.2018.pdf

In this episode, we review a new study in the science of happiness. The first, by Bruce Headey called, Happiness and Longevity: Unhappy People Die Young, Otherwise Happiness Probably Makes No Difference, explains what effect happiness has on our longetivity.  The first listener question is from a young man whose short love life has allowed him to feel the moods of happiness while in a relationship. Since the most recent breakup, he feels as though he has low self-esteem and is curious about whether this low self-esteem is due to his need to seek validation from others.   The next question is about evolutionary mismatch and whether happiness may come from correcting as many evolutionary mismatches as possible.   To finish out the show, we have a live caller asking about how to fine tune his diet & lifestyle and get over the proverbial "hump" after losing some motivation.  

We start the show with a question about whether a higher extroversion individual would act more introverted due to status loss.  Then, we move on to a question about why & what to do when getting ignored or constantly interrupted in an academic setting.   Then we move on to a quesiton about whether we have natural, genetic discipline and ambition.  Dr. Lisle shares his opinion about a recent book, Blueprint by Robert Plomin.

Ben Franklin effect, Burying feelings, Bottling up emotions, Internet trolls

Does casual mating doom pair bond chances? Evo psych & spiritual experience, sibling rivalry

Being cheap, Loaning money, Alcoholic husband, Influencing others

On-air session with a lady who has questions about how to spot casual mating

Advice for an indecisive man, Advice for a teacher, Delusional friends

Is knitting a sexual display? Is sexual inexperience a turn off? 

Finding a dream job, Drama at work, Helping parents find happiness

Why do suckers get suckered into things, Are emotions contagious? 

Epigenetics, Stress and health,  ego-centric bias while dating

Where does guilt come from? Why do some people have 'body issues'? What's the difference between empathy & compassion? Specifically, in the context of a sociopath? Is there a link between highly-open people & reduced genetic preference?

Dating down vs. up Do we embarrass to assess mate value? What to do if alcohol becomes the preferred social lubricant? Do pair-bonded agreeable people feel happy together?  

 What if your kid doesn't want to go to college?   Is there an anti-10 paid dates culture? Why are things "manly"? How to tell if a potential employee is agreeable & conscientious? Why does family discourage physical fitness vs. career success? and more!

Expectations vs performance, politics questions, business partner conflict

The second part of a 2-part show explaining the ego trap.  In this episode, we take questions from listeners about their own ego trap.