403. Attraction, Beauty, Growth, and Sex | Dr. Sarah Hill | The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

Intro

In this episode of “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” Dr. Jordan Peterson interviews Dr. Sarah Hill, author of “This is your brain on birth control.” They delve into the science of women’s hormones and the unintended consequences of birth control, exploring topics such as sex-based differences, mate choice copying, and the impact of hormones on women’s physical and emotional makeup.

Main Takeaways

Exploring Sex-Based Differences

• Dr. Sarah Hill discusses her book “This is your brain on birth control” and the science of women’s hormones and unintended consequences. (00:00:00 – 00:00:59)
• The book explores sex-based differences in regret, competition, academic striving, mate choice copying among women, and the impact of hormones on women’s physical and emotional makeup. (00:00:00 – 00:00:59)
• The significance of birth control in changing the perception of women and their reproductive function, leading to questions about the differences between men and women in sexual behavior and productivity. (00:02:00 – 00:03:59)

Defining Male and Female Based on Biological Differences

• Dr. Hill’s background in evolutionary biology shapes her perspective on defining male and female based on biological differences and the minimum investment in offspring. (00:03:00 – 00:04:59)
• The definition of a woman is related to the difference in size between the sperm and the egg, reflecting the investment in sex and reproduction.
• Human reproduction involves a high investment strategy and an 18-year commitment, with the initial years heavily reliant on women.
• Women’s inclusive fitness theory suggests that their genetic representation in future generations depends on their own genes and the genes of their relatives.

The Impact of Hormones on Women’s Emotional Well-being

• The emotional response in females changes at puberty, making them more sensitive to negative emotions, and this change appears to be harmoniously mediated.
• Societies with advanced gender equality show larger differences in trait neuroticism between men and women, indicating that the sensitivity to negative emotion is not solely cultural.
• Women are more sensitive to negative emotions, which can lead to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and unhappiness. (00:09:00 – 00:09:59)
• Women’s sensitivity to threat is useful due to their physical vulnerability and their role as a proxy for the vulnerability of their infants. (00:09:00 – 00:10:59)
• This increased sensitivity to threat allows women to be more alert to signs of danger or predation in their environment. (00:10:00 – 00:10:59)

Different Mating Strategies and Sexual Regret

• Women’s reproductive strategies involve heavy investment and potential risks, while men’s strategies vary in terms of investment.
• Men who adopt short-term mating strategies tend to exhibit traits such as psychopathy, narcissism, manipulativeness, and sadism, which are more pronounced in this group.
• Men and women have different responses to short-term mating episodes, with women more likely to experience sexual regret, while men tend to regret missed opportunities.
• There is a rich literature on sexual regret, with women more likely to regret short-term mating opportunities they participated in, while men tend to regret missed opportunities.

The Impact of Birth Control on Women’s Choices and Well-being

• Women’s partner preferences may shift from prioritizing qualities like safety and independence while on the pill, to focusing more on sexual desire and masculinity when off the pill. (Start: 01:25:00, End: 01:25:59)
• The decision to use hormonal birth control is unique to each woman and should consider factors like age and life goals (Start: 01:51:00, End: 01:51:59)
• Early onset of hormonal birth control can have irreversible effects, making it important to consider brain development and life goals before use (Start: 01:52:00, End: 01:52:59)
• Preventing pregnancy for young women is crucial for avoiding the challenges associated with single motherhood
• Society needs to have serious conversations with young people about sexual behavior and provide comprehensive sex education in schools

Summary

Exploring Sex-Based Differences

Dr. Sarah Hill discusses her book “This is your brain on birth control” and the science of women’s hormones and unintended consequences. The book explores sex-based differences in regret, competition, academic striving, mate choice copying among women, and the impact of hormones on women’s physical and emotional makeup. The significance of birth control in changing the perception of women and their reproductive function leads to questions about the differences between men and women in sexual behavior and productivity.

Defining Male and Female Based on Biological Differences

Dr. Hill’s background in evolutionary biology shapes her perspective on defining male and female based on biological differences and the minimum investment in offspring. The definition of a woman is related to the difference in size between the sperm and the egg, reflecting the investment in sex and reproduction. Human reproduction involves a high investment strategy and an 18-year commitment, with the initial years heavily reliant on women. Women’s inclusive fitness theory suggests that their genetic representation in future generations depends on their own genes and the genes of their relatives.

The Impact of Hormones on Women’s Emotional Well-being

The emotional response in females changes at puberty, making them more sensitive to negative emotions, and this change appears to be harmoniously mediated. Societies with advanced gender equality show larger differences in trait neuroticism between men and women, indicating that the sensitivity to negative emotion is not solely cultural. Women are more sensitive to negative emotions, which can lead to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and unhappiness. This increased sensitivity to threat allows women to be more alert to signs of danger or predation in their environment.

Different Mating Strategies and Sexual Regret

Women’s reproductive strategies involve heavy investment and potential risks, while men’s strategies vary in terms of investment. Men who adopt short-term mating strategies tend to exhibit traits such as psychopathy, narcissism, manipulativeness, and sadism, which are more pronounced in this group. Men and women have different responses to short-term mating episodes, with women more likely to experience sexual regret, while men tend to regret missed opportunities. There is a rich literature on sexual regret, with women more likely to regret short-term mating opportunities they participated in, while men tend to regret missed opportunities.

The Impact of Birth Control on Women’s Choices and Well-being

Women’s partner preferences may shift from prioritizing qualities like safety and independence while on the pill, to focusing more on sexual desire and masculinity when off the pill. The decision to use hormonal birth control is unique to each woman and should consider factors like age and life goals. Early onset of hormonal birth control can have irreversible effects, making it important to consider brain development and life goals before use. Preventing pregnancy for young women is crucial for avoiding the challenges associated with single motherhood. Society needs to have serious conversations with young people about sexual behavior and provide comprehensive sex education in schools.

Conclusion

Dr. Sarah Hill’s book “This is your brain on birth control” sheds light on the science of women’s hormones and the unintended consequences of birth control. It explores sex-based differences, mate choice copying, and the impact of hormones on women’s physical and emotional makeup. Understanding these factors can help individuals make informed decisions about birth control and navigate the complexities of sexual behavior and reproductive choices.