Is Romantic Love Overrated? Robin Dunbar on Friendship, Gossip & the Social Brain скачать в хорошем качестве

Is Romantic Love Overrated? Robin Dunbar on Friendship, Gossip & the Social Brain

Is romantic love really the most important relationship in our lives? What is Dunbar’s number, and why can’t humans maintain unlimited close relationships? In this conversation with evolutionary anthropologist Robin Dunbar, we explore love, friendship, gossip, social media, and the social brain. We discuss Dunbar’s famous “150” number, why our social networks are layered rather than flat, and whether friendships — not romantic partnerships — may be the true foundation of human wellbeing. Drawing from primate research, anthropology, and cognitive science, Dunbar explains how our brains limit the number of meaningful relationships we can maintain, and why gossip evolved as a social glue. The episode at a glance: 00:00 Why Relationships Shape the Human Brain 08:45 What “Dunbar’s Number” Really Means 18:30 Why Our Social Networks Are Layered 30:10 Do Other Animals Have Friendships? 42:20 Gossip as Social Glue 53:40 Social Media and the Future of Human Connection From mountain gorillas to modern humans, this conversation bridges animal behavior, evolutionary psychology, and contemporary life. If you care about relationships, community, loneliness, or the future of connection in a digital world, this episode is for you. #podcast #friendship #romanticlove #evolutionarypsychology