Beat Your Genes Podcast

Dr. Lisle talks with a listener during an on-air session about life direction, identity, and finding happiness. 

1.  If evolutionary psychology considers parental investment theory and the investment in kin as essential why do so many people in the West keep animals.  2.  I used to get really upset when my partner watched . I have relaxed and now feel like it's not the worst thing he can do and will not end my relationship so I shouldn't get upset. What do you think? 3.  Can a person's placing on the agreeability continuum be situational? I believe I am more or less disagreeable depending on the dynamics of different relationships. Is there anything a disagreeable person like me can do to Beat My Genes and become a nicer person. 4.  Previously, you've mentioned the thing that matters for a woman's pair bond value is her physical attractiveness, and that the female is objectively 1 rating more attractive than the male, who comes with resources. I know a few couples where the male is significantly more attractive than the female, and in which the female has greater resources to offer than the male. This sort of pair bonding relationship should not happen according to you. What's going on here?  5. What can people do to defeat decision fatigue and overcome the allure of Netflix? I have a project that I've been slowly working on, but after work I'm too tired to work on it, and on weekends I'm so overwhelmed by decision fatigue about whether to do more pressing errands (cooking, creating a budget, shopping, etc) or devote time to my project that I end up neglecting everything. 6.  You explained male homosexuality from an evolutionary psychology perspective, but what about female homosexuality? 7.  Other than being the best renditions of our respective selves, what can one do to build up their perceived status in the village?

 Explaining enablers, dating with psychiatric disorders, and having grit

Part 2 of Dr. Lisle's interview on Andrew Taylor's Spud Fit podcast.  He disusses the Myths of Moderation along with the Ego Trap with regards to making healthy lifestyle changes. 

We'll get to know a little more about how Dr. Lisle became a psychologist and how he learned about evolutionary psychology.  This is Part 1 of a two-part interview.  Stay tuned next week for part 2. 

I'll read a follow-up email with one of our listeners. And some fun questions from our listeners this week as well.  We will try to get to as many as possible.

Our caller just got a new job and his new supervisor insists on micromanaging everything he does.  

Our caller just got a new job and his new supervisor insists on micromanaging everything he does.  

Question we will try to get to: 1. Is the concept of self limiting beliefs the same as ego traps in evo psych? Why do these occur? 2.  My boyfriend and I are very nice people (very agreeable). Frustrating and funny at the same time. We have a problem figuring out what we want, since our first reaction is to please other people. But because we are not alone in the world, what happens a lot is that our decisions are made by others... We decided to try to have a baby. There is simply so much written and said on how to raise a child and even what’s best for pregnant women. I’m panicking even just by looking down this hole. Since we are both highly conscientious  as well, I’m afraid of falling into “read everything, talk to everyone, worry about advice that don’t go well together and try to find the perfect solution”.  Your last  shows sort of comforted me. If almost everything is in the genes, then I don’t have to worry as much about bringing up a small child. So my two questions would be: Do you have any special advice for the first time parents?  Do you have any sort of suggestions for dealing with relatives, friends, acquaintances for two agreeable parents like us? 3. How does Evo Psych examine dictators, group compliance & control, etc. through an evolutionary lens? Figures like Stalin, Hitler, Jim Jones, Chares Manson come to mind to name a few. Also, how would something like the door-in-the-face technique be explained through Ev. Psych?  4. In my circle of friends and family, it seems to me that those who identify as “Dog” people are skewed on the disagreeable side of the bell curve. While “Cat” people, are heavily skewed on the agreeable side of the curve. Is there any truth to this Cat/Dog person comparison, or is it a gross generalization?      

Listener questions we will try to get to for today: 1. For a successful first date, Dr. Lisle said the goal is to not get ruled out.  I'm using online dating and it seems like every time that I've met a girl that meets my standards physically, we'll have a pretty good first date, but then when I try to set up another date I usually hear from them that they didn't feel a connection.  Based on what you guys talk about in your podcast it leads me to believe that what they're saying is an inoffensive way of saying I wasn't physically attractive enough myself.  But I remember Dr. Lisle mentioning in his advice for guys that we want to take advantage of the repeat exposure effect.  How do I take advantage of this effect when I'm consistently told there's no connection from the woman after we've only gone out on one date.  And as a side question, has online dating ruined the repeat exposure effect since people feel obligated to judge others for romantic potential very quickly. 2.  Why does so much anger exist from groups like Black Lives Matter? What is the evolutionary psychology foundation for political correctness & why is it so pervasive? Why is it so difficult for people to accept political in-correctness without feeling angry or insulted? Is there a way to make someone less sensitive to political in-correctness? 3.  What are men and women trying to signal with tattoos?  What are women trying to signal by getting tattoos in non conspicuous locations, for example hidden behind the ear, or on the ankle. 4. Is the concept of self limiting beliefs the same as ego traps in evolutionary psychology? Why do these occur? 5. In his session with Olivia, Dr. Lisle alluded to the next phase dealing with disagreeable personalities, but he didn't get into the meat of it. I need the meat. Any chance you could expound?

Marxism, Affairs, Video Games, Tattoo signaling

What if your mate rival drives a Porsche, Succeeding at job interviews

How different do we act when we're being watched? 

-Do men appear more desirable when seen with attractive women? What does the science say?   -Stanley Milgram's famous study demonstrated people's capacity for obedience to an authority figure in the name of the common good. Recently, Milgram's work was replicated.  The results may surprise you. -One transgender athlete has made it to the spotlight in competitive lifting.  Listen to what happened.  -In honor of Darwin, we present a Darwin Award whereby someone unwittingly takes themselves out of the gene pool in an unbelievably silly manner.  Runner-up award may be given to those who only injured themselves. 

57: Listener emails