Romantic Love and Friendship with Robin Dunbar

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but we’re relentlessly reminded that romantic love ought to be the most important relationship in our lives. But in this conversation, evolutionary anthropologist Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford, provides a more nuanced idea.

We explore where humans sit evolutionarily between monogamy and polygamy, why pair bonding may have evolved as a protective strategy in large social groups, and why romance includes friendship and requires continued investment to remain stable. If we treat romantic partners as permanently secure family members we risk neglecting the very behaviors that sustain long-term bonds.

If you want to explore more of Robin's work check out a few of these titles:

Explore Robin Dunbar’s Work

• Friends

• Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language

• How Many Friends Does One Person Need?

• The Social Brain

You can keep up with me on Instagram (@RealDrJen) and check out Wild Connection TV on YouTube where I bring science to life. And check out my Substack for more writings.