#09 - Darren Burke - The Psychology of Evolution, Attraction & Dark Personality Types

In Episode 09, I sit down with Associate Professor Darren Burke to explore the psychology of evolution, attraction and dark personality traits. Darren is an Experimental and Biological Psychologist whose work examines how evolutionary pressures have shaped the way we see, think, learn and relate to one another. We unpack what evolutionary psychology actually is (and what it isn’t), why sexual dimorphism exists and how traits linked to attraction may function as signals of health, dominance or reproductive fitness.We also explore the darker side of attraction — discussing traits associated with the Dark Tetrad (Narcissism, Machiavellians, Psychopathy, and Sadism), why they can sometimes appear appealing and how evolutionary theory helps explain both their persistence and their risks.This episode challenges oversimplified narratives about “men vs women” and instead focuses on variability, function and the deeper psychological mechanisms that shape human behaviour.If you’re interested in biology, social cognition, attraction or the evolutionary roots of personality — this conversation brings nuance to one of psychology’s most misunderstood areas.