Essentials: How Humans Select & Keep Romantic Partners in the Short & Long Term | Dr. David Buss

In this episode of Huberman Lab Essentials, Andrew Huberman interviews Dr. David Buss on the topic of mate choice from an evolutionary perspective. Dr. Buss explains Darwin's theory of sexual selection, differentiating between qualities desired in long-term versus short-term mating. He details universal desires like intelligence and kindness, as well as sex-differentiated preferences such as women prioritizing resource acquisition and men valuing physical attractiveness and youth. The discussion covers deception in online dating, the importance of olfactory and auditory cues, and the role of jealousy and mate guarding. Dr. Buss also addresses the dark triad personality traits and their impact on mating behaviors, stalking motivations, and the influence of childhood attachment styles on partner choice, and the importance of self-assessment of mate value. He recommends his books for further exploration of these topics.