Did Evolutionary Psychology Get Dating All Wrong? - Dr Paul Eastwick

Dr Paul Eastwick is a psychologist, professor, and a researcher. Much of what we think we know about relationships comes from an evolutionary psychology lens, but what if that framework is flawed? In his groundbreaking new research, Dr Paul Eastwick challenges long-held assumptions, turning evolutionary psychology on its head. So where did it go wrong, and what new models replace it? Expect to learn where the Evo Psych community may have been wrong about mating and relationships, the biggest problem with the term “mating market”, how accurate people’s opinions are and ideas at their “type” or mate preferences, what men find appealing in women and visa versa, what Paul’s definition of attachment in adulthood via safe haven (support in adversity) and secure base (support in growth) is, why masculinity needs reimagining and much more… - 0:00 What’s Really Broken in the Mating Market 15:00 Is Romance Just a Hierarchy of Inequality? 25:01 Does Self-Improvement Boost Your Dating Game? 31:43 What Do Men and Women Actually Find Attractive? 42:56 Why Online Dating is Destroying Modern Mating 47:07 What Traits are Over and Underestimated in Men and Women? 58:20 Waiting to Have Sex: Does It Really Improve Relationships? 01:14:54 Why Attachment Matters in Love 01:19:17 Why Breakups are So Tough 01:29:47 Are Humans Naturally Monogamous or Serial Monogamous? 01:34:49 Where to Find Paul - Get up to 20% off the leading longevity and cellular health supplement at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period from Shopify at https://shopify.com/modernwisdom - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Chris WilliamsonhostDr. Paul Eastwickguest

Feb 7, 20261h 35mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: February 7, 2026
Duration: 1h 35m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Dr Paul Eastwick is a psychologist, professor, and a researcher. Much of what we think we know about relationships comes from an evolutionary psychology lens, but what if that framework is flawed? In his groundbreaking new research, Dr Paul Eastwick challenges long-held assumptions, turning evolutionary psychology on its head. So where did it go wrong, and what new models replace it? Expect to learn where the Evo Psych community may have been wrong about mating and relationships, the biggest problem with the term “mating market”, how accurate people’s opinions are and ideas at their “type” or mate preferences, what men find appealing in women and visa versa, what Paul’s definition of attachment in adulthood via safe haven (support in adversity) and secure base (support in growth) is, why masculinity needs reimagining and much more… - 0:00 What’s Really Broken in the Mating Market 15:00 Is Romance Just a Hierarchy of Inequality? 25:01 Does Self-Improvement Boost Your Dating Game? 31:43 What Do Men and Women Actually Find Attractive? 42:56 Why Online Dating is Destroying Modern Mating 47:07 What Traits are Over and Underestimated in Men and Women? 58:20 Waiting to Have Sex: Does It Really Improve Relationships? 01:14:54 Why Attachment Matters in Love 01:19:17 Why Breakups are So Tough 01:29:47 Are Humans Naturally Monogamous or Serial Monogamous? 01:34:49 Where to Find Paul - Get up to 20% off the leading longevity and cellular health supplement at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period from Shopify at https://shopify.com/modernwisdom - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Chris Williamson
host
Dr. Paul Eastwick
guest

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Chris Williamson and Dr. Paul Eastwick, Did Evolutionary Psychology Get Dating All Wrong? - Dr Paul Eastwick explores relationship science challenges mating-market myths: compatibility, attachment, and modern dating Eastwick contrasts classic evolutionary-psychology framing (mate value hierarchies, large sex differences, short- vs long-term “strategies”) with a relationship-science view centered on attachment, dyadic processes, and compatibility that emerges over time.

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