When the Heart Says Yes, but the Brain Says Listen to Your Serotonin

Washington Post

Helen Fisher, the Rutgers University anthropologist who studies the biology and evolutionary purpose of romantic love, was in town recently, and we spoke with her about her theory that humans generally fit into four biologically influenced personality types.

Fisher believes the activities of certain chemicals in the brain help determine whether one is -- for instance -- a risk-taking Explorer (dopamine) or a staid and careful Builder (serotonin). In her relatively new gig as "chief scientific adviser" for a dating Web site, Fisher has developed a 56-question survey she says can help determine someone's type and whom that person will fall for. Fisher also spoke about something called the "sweaty-T-shirt experiment" (which we won't get into here) and Hillary Clinton's testosterone (which we will).

-- Libby Copeland

So, Hillary Clinton . . . ?

A total Director, I think. Who's married to a total Negotiator.

What chemicals do the Negotiator and the Director correlate to?

The Director is the high-testosterone type.

They're direct, they're decisive. They're tough-minded, they're competitive. . . . They have poorer people skills, which you would expect. And very fine spatial skills.

The Negotiator is associated with estrogen.

(Continued here.)