A contemporary classic about love now completely revised and updated. From love at first sight and infidelity to hook-up culture and "slow love," Dr. Helen Fisher, the biological anthropologist and "renowned expert on the science of love" (Scientific American), explains it all in this thoroughly revised classic on the evolution and future of human sex, romance, and partnership. Examining marriage and divorce in 58 societies and adultery in 42 cultures, she argues that we are returning to patterns of business, sex, and love that echo our ancient past…and she is optimistic about our future.

An exploration of human behavior examines the innate aspects of love, sex, and marriage, discussing flirting behavior, courting postures, the brain chemistry of attraction, divorce and adultery in societies around the world, and more. Reprint.

Psychological research has produced a rich body of empirical data documenting humanity's propensity to commit infidelity in the context of long-term relationships, but comparatively little work has been dedicated to synthesizing these data into an integrated framework that encompasses the full range of its processes, from why it occurs in the first place to how it affects the long-term relationship thereafter. This edited handbook integrates a broad range of topics such as characteristics related to the propensity to commit infidelity, sex differences in reactions to infidelity, our inclination to dissolve relationships after infidelity, and other responses to infidelity. It showcases contributions from experts in social psychology, evolutionary psychology, and others who specialize in research on romantic relationships. The handbook discusses the processes of infidelity alongside sources of variation, such as sexual orientation, developmental life history, individual differences, and culture. This volume captures the interdisciplinary quality of research on the predictors, nature, and consequences of infidelity for the broader social scientific community interested in trust in romantic relationships.

The national bestselling book Why Him? Why Her? shows how a better understanding of who you are will help you find and keep the love you want Why do you fall in love with one person rather than another? In this fascinating and informative book, Helen Fisher, one of the world's leading experts on romantic love, unlocks the hidden code of desire and attachment. Each of us, it turns out, primarily expresses one of four broad personality types—Explorer, Builder, Director, or Negotiator—and each of these types is governed by different chemical systems in the brain. Driven by this biology, we are attracted to partners who both mirror and complement our own personality type. Until now the search for love has been blind, but Fisher pulls back the curtain and reveals how we unconsciously go about finding the right match. Drawing on her unique study of 40,000 men and women, she explores each personality type in detail and shows you how to identify your own type. Then she explains why some types match up well, whereas others are problematic. (Note to Explorers: be prepared for a wild ride when you hitch your star to a fellow Explorer!) Ultimately, Fisher's investigation into the complex nature of romance and attachment leads to astonishing new insights into the essence of dating, love, and marriage. Based on entirely new research—including a detailed questionnaire completed by seven million people in thirty-three countries—Why Him? Why Her? will change your understanding of why you love him (or her) and help you use nature's chemistry to find and keep your life partner.

A theologically grounded treatment of what it means to be close to God Numerous Christian books aim to provide guidance on relationships with God, but few base their conclusions on a biblical theology of intimacy. In this volume, Tim Anderson develops a biblical and holistic portrait of nearness to God, exploring key themes like God's Trinitarian union, the fall, God's fatherhood, marriage imagery, suffering, and our relationship with the Holy Spirit. A concluding chapter examines contemporary Christian songs that address oneness with God and evaluates their theological messages in light of the previous chapters. Into His Presence is a helpful guide for pursuing intimacy with God and distinguishing contemporary cultural understandings of close relationships from those communicated in Scripture.

An Austen scholar and therapist reveals Jane Austen's intuitive ability to imbue her characters with hallmarks of social intelligence—and how these beloved works of literature can further illuminate the mind-brain connection. Why is Jane Austen so phenomenally popular? Why do we read Pride and Prejudice again and again? Why do we delight in Emma’s mischievous schemes? Why do we care that Anne Elliot of Persuasion suffers? We care because it is our biological destiny to be interested in people and their stories—the human brain is a social brain, and Austen’s characters are so believable that, for many of us, they are not just imaginary beings, but friends whom we know and love. And thanks to Austen’s ability to capture the breadth and depth of human psychology so thoroughly, we feel that she empathizes with us. Humans have a profound need for empathy, to know that we are not alone with our joys and sorrows. We see ourselves and others reflected in Austen’s work. Social intelligence is one of the most highly developed human traits when compared with other animals. How did it evolve? Why is it so valuable? Wendy Jones explores the many facets of social intelligence and juxtaposes them with the Austen cannon. Brilliantly original and insightful, this fusion of psychology, neuroscience, and literature provides a heightened understanding of one of our most beloved cultural institutions—and our own minds.

Researchers of human behaviour have identified an "orgasm gap": Men usually orgasm during intercourse, whereas women often do not. This book addresses this mystery. The two leading explanations are either that women are “psychologically broken” - Freud’s theory – or badly designed – the “by-product theory.” However, there is a much more compelling third explanation. Evolutionary biology, anatomy, physiology, and direct sex research suggest women have evolved under their own selection pressures and orgasm is a fitness-increasing consequence of such selective factors. This is revealed in their patterns of orgasmic response, which are neither random nor inexplicable. Key Features • Synthesizes decades of peer-reviewed sex research in anatomy, biology, physiology, and behavior. • Engagingly written based on feedback from students, peers, and interested lay persons. • Makes sense of the “orgasm gap” between men and women. • Provides a wider context of human sexual dimorphism and mutual sexual selection. • Balances sex research and real-world research and practical applications.