The Political Animal

Evolutionary Psychology

When All Good Fathers Come to the Aid of Their Babies

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on May 22, 2024

Sweeping across millennia and across vertebrates, Sarah Hrdy's new book, Father Time, makes the case that men make wonderful parents.

Sweeping across millennia and across vertebrates, Sarah Hrdy's new book, Father Time, makes the case that men make wonderful parents.

Relationships

Love Has Become Anybody's Game

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on February 16, 2024

Valentines Day has meant different things to different people. It was about the fertility of Roman emperors; it was about the chastity of priests. Now it's about all of us.

Valentines Day has meant different things to different people. It was about the fertility of Roman emperors; it was about the chastity of priests. Now it's about all of us.

Politics

A Brief History of Taking Down Competitors

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on December 5, 2023

Strong subjects have been taken out since Herodotus. Roman emperors took his advice. As do Pan troglodytes.

Strong subjects have been taken out since Herodotus. Roman emperors took his advice. As do Pan troglodytes.

Evolutionary Psychology

Why Do We Use Euphemisms to Describe Behavior?

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on September 13, 2023

People have always been social. But all societies are unequal. Helpers and workers suffer. Euphemisms like "cooperative breeding" and "eusocial" should be dropped.

People have always been social. But all societies are unequal. Helpers and workers suffer. Euphemisms like "cooperative breeding" and "eusocial" should be dropped.

Sex

Paternal Investment and Father vs. Son Rivalry

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on April 26, 2023

Greek myths and historical demographics make the case that fathers often compete with their sons.

Greek myths and historical demographics make the case that fathers often compete with their sons.

Sex

How Mothers Contribute to Their Sons' Success

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on August 22, 2022

Pharaohs, Roman empresses, European fishermen and farmers and bonobo mothers have done their best to promote their sons.

Pharaohs, Roman empresses, European fishermen and farmers and bonobo mothers have done their best to promote their sons.

Self-Harm

A Portrait of Caroline Darwin

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on March 21, 2022

Charles Darwin admitted in his Autobiography that his sister was smarter than he was. But he was doubtful of women's intellectual abilities in 'The Descent of Man.'

Charles Darwin admitted in his Autobiography that his sister was smarter than he was. But he was doubtful of women's intellectual abilities in 'The Descent of Man.'

Genetics

Gene Flow in History

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on December 3, 2021

Evidence that we pillaged and raped in the past is all over history, archaeology, demography—and in our DNA.

Evidence that we pillaged and raped in the past is all over history, archaeology, demography—and in our DNA.

Sex

Men Doing Women Wrong

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on July 6, 2021

Sexual coercion and violence against women can be stopped. Evolutionary psychologists are trying to understand these issues and stop them.

Sexual coercion and violence against women can be stopped. Evolutionary psychologists are trying to understand these issues and stop them.

Sex

About Eve

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on April 16, 2021

Like the daughters of Eve, women in history have been hidden away. And are often unnamed.

Like the daughters of Eve, women in history have been hidden away. And are often unnamed.

Sex

Sex in the USSR

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on January 24, 2021

Tsars, Kaisers, and Caesars had a couple of things in common. Stalin continued those trends.

Tsars, Kaisers, and Caesars had a couple of things in common. Stalin continued those trends.

Sex

Grand Progenitors

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on October 23, 2020

Mao and his predecessors had hundreds or thousands of sex partners. Other men went without. That's changing now.

Mao and his predecessors had hundreds or thousands of sex partners. Other men went without. That's changing now.

Ethics and Morality

A Short History of Plague

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on July 11, 2020

People have always lived with plagues. The toll of those epidemics was devastating, but they often had upsides.

People have always lived with plagues. The toll of those epidemics was devastating, but they often had upsides.

Religion

Rebirth

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on April 14, 2020

Resurrection defines life in every religion, every spring.

Resurrection defines life in every religion, every spring.

Genetics

True Genius

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on February 13, 2020

A genius is clever and creative, inventive and ingenious. But above all, a genius is a sex god.

A genius is clever and creative, inventive and ingenious. But above all, a genius is a sex god.

Sex

Sexy Gods

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on December 11, 2019

Sex in heaven has usually looked a little like sex on earth.

Sex in heaven has usually looked a little like sex on earth.

Friends

Jeffrey Epstein & Friends

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on August 21, 2019

Too many of us have helped him out.

Too many of us have helped him out.

Marriage

Women With More Than One Man

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on April 9, 2019

Serial monogamy often amounts to polyandry.

Serial monogamy often amounts to polyandry.

Deception

Common Sense

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on January 11, 2019

Tom Paine published his great pamphlet 243 years ago this week. He was an advocate of open borders, and of open minds.

Tom Paine published his great pamphlet 243 years ago this week. He was an advocate of open borders, and of open minds.

Memory

Of Mole-Rats and Men

Laura Betzig Ph.D. on September 23, 2018

Richard Alexander died last month. He mentored some of the best students of evolutionary biology.

Richard Alexander died last month. He mentored some of the best students of evolutionary biology.