Biological Anthropologist Helen Fisher discusses four broad basic styles of thinking and behaving associated with four primary brain systems: the dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and estrogen/oxytocin systems.  She discusses the biological contribution to partnership compatibility and relationship stress. And she hypothesizes that individuals who primarily express the constellation of traits linked with each of these basic brain systems may be predisposed to different forms of love addiction, including romance junkies, attachment junkies, violence junkies, and depressive co-dependents.  She concludes with a discussion of how to use brain mechanisms to sustain a happy healthy relationship.

Learning Objectives – Not approved for NBCC CE

Describe four broad basic styles of thinking and behaving associated with the dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and estrogen systems in the brain.

Explain how one’s primary biology-based style of thinking and behaving draws you naturally to one potential mating partner rather than another, thus playing a significant role in mate choice.

Describe how people who primarily express each specific style of thinking and behaving are predisposed to suffer different forms of love addiction and form different kinds of partnerships with different joys and sorrows.