The Science of Happily Ever After audiobook cover - What Really Matters in the Quest for Enduring Love

The Science of Happily Ever After

What Really Matters in the Quest for Enduring Love

Ty Tashiro

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Society & CultureSex & RelationshipsHistory

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The Science of Happily Ever After
The Evolutionary Trap+
The Three Wishes Framework+
Redefining Love+
Crucial Traits to Evaluate+
Systematizing Your Choice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the book, why are humans often ill-equipped to choose a lifelong partner?
  • A. They rely too heavily on the advice of friends and family.
  • B. Their brains are wired to seek mates based on survival rather than long-term compatibility.
  • C. They prioritize emotional connection over physical attraction and health.
  • D. They spend too much time analyzing traits instead of trusting their intuition.
Question 2 of 7
How does the book define 'love' in the context of a successful relationship?
  • A. A state of continuous passion that overcomes practical personality differences.
  • B. An act of fate that occurs when two people with secure attachment styles meet.
  • C. A combination of liking and lusting, where liking consists of loyalty, kindness, and fairness.
  • D. The statistical probability of finding someone who fulfills your top ten relationship wishes.
Question 3 of 7
Why does the author recommend limiting your relationship 'wishes' to exactly three traits?
  • A. Human memory naturally struggles to actively track more than three traits at once during the dating phase.
  • B. Each additional required trait drastically narrows your pool of possibilities due to statistical probability.
  • C. Choosing more than three traits is a strong psychological indicator of an anxious attachment style.
  • D. Focusing on more than three traits usually leads to prioritizing wealth and attractiveness over kindness.
Question 4 of 7
What does the book suggest about prioritizing wealth and physical attractiveness in a partner?
  • A. They are essential indicators of a secure attachment style and should be prioritized first.
  • B. They are the most reliable predictors of a long-lasting, passionate relationship.
  • C. They should be completely ignored, as they always lead to toxic and doomed affairs.
  • D. They have a diminishing return on investment once basic survival and financial stability are achieved.
Question 5 of 7
According to the text, who is typically best at accurately identifying a prospective partner's true traits?
  • A. Your friends and family, because you are primed to ignore negative traits during the passionate phase.
  • B. The person who is dating them, because they spend the most one-on-one time together.
  • C. The prospective partner themselves, through honest self-reporting early in the relationship.
  • D. A professional relationship counselor or therapist.
Question 6 of 7
If you are going to prioritize one personality trait above all others for long-term relationship success, which does the author recommend?
  • A. Spontaneity
  • B. Agreeableness
  • C. Novelty-seeking
  • D. Ambition
Question 7 of 7
Which attachment style is described as an individual being so needy that they want to 'disappear' into the relationship?
  • A. Secure attachment
  • B. Avoidant attachment
  • C. Anxious attachment
  • D. Neurotic attachment

The Science of Happily Ever After — Full Chapter Overview

The Science of Happily Ever After Summary & Overview

The Science of Happily Ever After (2014) digs into the history of mating throughout the history of the human species and answers the question of why some couples live happily ever after and some don’t. Part history and anthropology lesson, part self-help, it offers explanations and advice for anyone seeking love.

Who Should Listen to The Science of Happily Ever After?

  • Love seekers
  • People wondering why it never works out
  • Couples in relationships who want to live happily ever after

About the Author: Ty Tashiro

Ty Tashiro, PhD, is an author and social scientist. He’s previously written Awkward and his work has been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post. He’s also been an award-winning professor at the University of Maryland and the University of Colorado.

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