You guys know I am obsessed with understanding why we do the things we do, especially the things that get us hurt. And today’s guest is the perfect guide. Dr. Gad Saad is an evolutionary behavioral scientist, professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s boldest truth-tellers when it comes to the hard science behind jealousy, abuse, attraction, and the dark side of human relationships. If you’ve ever wondered why the “bad boy” draws you in, why jealousy can be so dangerous, or why some relationships escalate into control and even violence, this is the episode you need. Dr. Saad pulls no punches, and you’ll be SHOCKED by how much of your love life can be explained by ancient evolutionary pressures. In Part 1, we dig deep into the evolutionary truths behind why women are repeatedly drawn to the same red-flag men, why men get so possessive and jealous, and the biological reasons behind dangerous behavior in relationships. Get ready to have your mind blown (and maybe cringe a little) as we unpack child abuse, infidelity, the real meaning of jealousy, red flags to watch for, and why “dangerous” is sometimes so damn attractive. SHOWNOTES Why Your Husband Is Statistically the Most Dangerous Person In Your Life Child Abuse, Step-parents & the Cinderella Effect The Lion Analogy: Brutal Nature, Brutal Lessons Different Types of Abuse: Stepmother vs. Stepfather Why Men Evolved Jealousy & Rage Over Infidelity Evolutionary Explanations Aren’t Excuses Lisa’s Story: Taking Ownership After Staying Silent How to Vet for Jealousy: Traits & Red Flags Controlling Partners: When Jealousy Becomes Dangerous Situational vs. Dispositional Jealousy & Fundamental Attribution Error Opposites Attract? Or “Birds of a Feather”? (What Actually Works) The Height Rule: Why Almost No Women Pick Shorter Men What Makes “Alpha” Men So Risky? (From Lions to Epstein) Ostrich Parasitic Syndrome: Why We Ignore Red Flags Why Some Women Fall for Predators: Ambition, Gut Instinct, and Dangerous Men Parental Investment Theory & Women’s “Calibration” The Fantasy vs. The Reality of Taming Bad Boys “Mate Value” and Why High-Value Women Don’t Settle for Red Flags Why High-Status Men Cheat (and What Unlocks Male Power) What Women Really Want: Social Dominance, Empathy, and the Right Amount of Power When Power Spills into Abuse Why Certain Famous Men are Sex Symbols for Some, Not All The Real-Life “Fifty Shades” and the Power of Arrogance Sneaky F*cker Strategies: How “Soft Boys” Manipulate Empathy Serial Killer Tactics: The Wounded Bird Routine Lisa’s Real-Life Crime Story: Trusting Your Gut, Not Your Empathy Thank you to our sponsors: HomeServe: Plans start at just $4.99 a month https://homeserve.com Cozy Earth: code COZYLISA for 20% off https://cozyearth.com IQ Bar: 20% off and FREE shipping, text LISA to 64000 OneSkin: 15% off with code LISA at https://oneskin.co/lisa Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/lisa Follow Dr. Gad Saad X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/GadSaad YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GadSaad Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorgadsaad/ Book: “The Parasitic Mind” (and pre-order “Suicidal Empathy”) FOLLOW LISA BILYEU: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices