Helen Fisher

Helen Fisher

Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute

Helen E. Fisher, Ph.D. biological anthropologist, is a Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, and a Member of the Center For Human Evolutionary Studies in the Department of Anthropology at Rutgers University. She has written six books on the evolution, biology, and psychology of human sexuality, monogamy, adultery and divorce, gender differences in the brain, the neural chemistry of romantic love and attachment, human biologically-based personality styles, why we fall in love with one person rather than another, hooking up, friends with benefits, living together and other current trends, and the future of relationships — what she calls: slow love.

Black and white cutout of a smiling man's face with red heart shapes drawn over his eyes on a black background.
17 min
The ancient origins of partnering and romantic love
“No matter what their gods were, what they did for a living, what they wore, the songs they sang, everything varies except love, and everybody loves.”
Helen Fisher: How science can explain heartbreak
Why do we fall in love with one person over another? The late biological anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher unpacks the evolutionary roots of romantic love, sex, and attachment.  Using research […]
25 min
Sex in 3 places: Your brain, your bedroom, and in society
Mating, monogamy, and maximizing your sexual potential explained by 3 sex experts.
A silhouette of a boy jumping into the water.
13 min
What the sexual revolution has done to modern families
Thinkers like Richard Reeves, Louise Perry, and Judith Butler discuss parenthood and the future of the sexual revolution.
BetterHelp
8 min
Our primordial drive for sex and love
Your brain on sex, love, and rejection with biological anthropologist Helen Fisher.
Two figures, their heads covered in white cloth, face each other closely against a dark background, evoking the mysterious science of love. The science of love with Dr. Helen Fisher
We all want to have a good, stable relationship with somebody, says Dr. Helen Fisher. So it's important to understand how intense romantic love affects our long-term goals.
John Templeton Foundation
3 min
Are humans hardwired for monogamy?
Evolution steered humans toward pair bonding to ensure the survival of genes. But humans tend to get restless.