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The Blind Matchmaker

A discussion of our evolved psychology in the domains of mating, attraction, and romantic and sexual relationships.
by Andrew Galperin
Andrew Galperin is a doctoral candidate in social psychology at UCLA, working with Dr. Martie Haselton. See full bio

The Blind Matchmaker

October 18, 2009

Thin Slices of Desperation

Apparently, one can easily detect desperation from all the way across the speed-dating table. In a recent study, people who had low standards somehow leaked this information to the other daters. Indiscriminate daters were perceived as indiscriminate and were also less liked, partly for this very reason. And there was more to it than attractiveness, as the results persisted even after statistically controlling for it.

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September 10, 2009

Our Species Is Not Like That

The movie Species became a cult hit because it was centered on an attractive woman who craved sex so much that she would do it anywhere, anytime, and with almost anyone. When is the last time you met someone like that? Such women are not very common, and frankly, many people would doubt that they exist at all. But why don't they exist? Read More

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Evolutionary Psychology Basics

Our bodies evolved over eons, slowly calibrating to the African savanna on which 98 percent of our ancestors lived and died. So, too, did our brains. Evolutionary psychology postulates that the mind is shaped by pressure to survive and reproduce. We jealously guard romantic partners and cherish our closest relatives above all others, lest we fail to pass on our genes.

Go to the Evolutionary Psychology Basics page for more on Evolutionary Psychology including:
  • EP Is Not Always PC
  • Mate Appeal
  • Who We Are
Go to Evolutionary Psychology Basics

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