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The science of love and betrayal

Heart

Friday 22 June 2012, 6.00PM

Speaker(s): Professor Robin Dunbar, British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, University of Oxford


We are honored and delighted that the Robin Dunbar, the author of the acclaimed book, How many friends does one need?, will be making a festival appearance on Friday 22 June at the Ron Cooke Hub at 6pm. Professor Dunbar will be talking about his new book, The Science of Love and Betrayal.

Professor Dunbar will use the talk to explore the extraordinary nature of romantic love - from the frontline of cutting-edge scientific research. Basing his arguments on new and experimental scientific research, Dunbar explores the psychology and ethology of romantic love and how our evolutionary programming still affects our behaviour. The Science of Love and Betrayal is essential for anyone who's ever wondered why we fall in love and what on earth is going on when we do.

Robin Dunbar is currently Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University and a Fellow of Magdalen College. His principal research interest is the evolution of sociality. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1998. His books include The Trouble with Science, 'an eloquent riposte to the anti-science lobby' (Sunday Times), and Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language. The Human Story was described as 'fizzing with recent research and new theories' in the Sunday Times and 'punchy and provocative' by the New Scientist. How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Dunbar's Number and Other Evolutionary Quirks was published in 2010.

See www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/mar/14/my-bright-idea-robin-dunbar for an
interview with Professor Dunbar.

Admission: by free ticket only, available from yorkfestivalofideas.com/tickets

Location: Ron Cooke Hub, Heslington East, University of York