Human mating strategies: from monogamy to polygamy and beyond

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, this talk will no longer be taking place, we apologise for any disappointment.

Love is not static but a constantly evolving phenomenon. In this talk evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin draws on two decades of research into human love to explore two less talked about aspects of our love lives: religious and parasocial love and the future of love. Unlike other animals our powerful brains enable us to love even when the object of our affection is not physically present enabling us to experience both religious and parasocial love (love of celebrity) while our drive to innovate means that our love lives are not immune to technological change – both AI and love drugs are on the horizon. Drawing on cutting edge research in neuroscience, psychology and genetics Anna will take you on a journey through the human brain, build a picture of the future and ask you to consider the ethical questions which arise when technology enters our intimate relationships.

Researcher and writer Macken Murphy has been praised by the BBC, The New York Times, and more for his work on evolutionary biology and anthropology. He is best known for his podcast, Species, and his viral videos on social media, both of which focus on sharing facts from the evolutionary sciences. He studied cognitive and evolutionary anthropology at Oxford University with a research focus on infidelity in romantic relationships. Macken currently is researching human mating at the University of Melbourne.