The Cancelled Professor: Men Are Hardwired To Cheat! - Dr Gad Saad

In this episode, Steven Bartlett interviews Dr Gad Saad on the evolutionary psychology behind human behavior, mating, and relationships. Dr Saad brings a scientific perspective to controversial topics surrounding gender dynamics, attraction, and infidelity. The conversation begins with Saad's life purpose and his work as an evolutionary behavioral scientist, exploring how our biology shapes our decisions. Early in the discussion, Saad presents data on predictors of child abuse and the characteristics of dangerous partners, grounding abstract concepts in real harm. A significant portion of the episode examines monogamy through an evolutionary lens. Saad argues that while monogamy is a valuable social institution, it contradicts our biological programming, particularly for men. He discusses the concept of a mate desirability score and how certain traits make individuals more attractive across cultures. The episode delves into the differences between male and female desirability factors, with status and resources being crucial for male attractiveness while physical appearance and fertility indicators matter more for female attractiveness. Saad addresses masculinity confusion in modern culture, explaining that much of what society has deemed toxic masculinity is simply masculinity itself, which evolved to serve specific reproductive purposes. He discusses what it feels like to be a woman from an evolutionary perspective, emphasizing that women face unique challenges in partner selection due to pregnancy costs and offspring dependency. A substantial discussion covers pornography's impact on men, with Saad arguing that modern high-speed internet porn creates addiction patterns that damage productivity and self-worth. He explains how dopamine dysregulation from constant novelty in porn affects men's ability to engage with real partners and real life. The conversation touches on parenting advice, suggesting that modern approaches often conflict with evolutionary psychology in ways that may harm child development. Saad discusses happiness research, identifying key factors that contribute to well-being while acknowledging that genetics play a significant role in baseline happiness levels. The latter portion addresses cultural and political topics, including woke culture, cancel culture, and freedom of speech. Saad argues that suppressing truthful research and free speech causes greater societal harm than allowing open discussion, even on controversial topics. He discusses equality of opportunity versus equality of outcome, and touches on his views regarding political figures and voting. Throughout the episode, Saad maintains that understanding our evolutionary heritage helps us make better decisions in modern life, even when those evolutionary impulses conflict with contemporary values. The interview showcases his controversial but evidence-based approach to understanding human nature.