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3 Reasons You’re Dating the Wrong Person

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Finding the right person is hard. Being attracted to the wrong one is just as common.

In this episode of Office Hours, I explore why some people find themselves stuck in the same dating patterns over and over again, pursuing partners who are unavailable, manipulative, emotionally destructive, or struggling with addiction. I explain why attraction can override good judgment, why certain personality types are especially alluring, and how to learn from past mistakes and create healthier patterns in love.

This episode focuses on choosing the right person in the first place. If you haven't yet listened to my episode, 3 Rules to Fall in Love and Stay in Love, I recommend it as a companion to this conversation. Together, they offer a roadmap for both finding love and building a lasting relationship.

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Referenced:

The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

Meaning Membership

The Happiness Scale

The Pursuit of Happiness with Arthur Brooks

Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Say Dating Has Gotten Harder for Most People in the Last 10 Years

Groundhog Day

Mate Choice Copying in Humans

The ability to judge the romantic interest of others

Are daughters of alcoholics more likely to marry alcoholics?

Drinking: A Love Story

DSM-IV alcohol dependence and marital dissolution: evidence from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

Dark Triad Quiz

The sociopaths among us: How to spot (and avoid) a Dark Triad

The dark triad: Facilitating a short‐term mating strategy in men

Emophilia: An overlooked (but not forgotten) construct in relationships and individual differences

Life outcomes and relationship dispositions: The unique role of Emophilia

The Science Behind Being Good at Leisure

guest appearing in this episode

(00:00) Intro

(05:19) Why dating feels so difficult

(06:29) Dating Groundhog Day

(10:12) Attraction to unavailable people

(15:25) Substance abuse

(18:29) The Dark Triad

(20:56) How the Dark Triad reels you in

(25:52) Why we ignore red flags

(27:19) Dating strategy #1: Stop relying on others' judgment

(28:48) Dating strategy #2: Address your emophilia

(30:16) Dating strategy #3: Expand your time horizon

(32:10) Dating strategy #4: Don’t focus on looks and status

(33:21) Dating strategy #5: Look in the right place

(35:15) Dating strategy #6: Stop looking for your ex

(37:29) Dating strategy #7: Stop romanticizing doomed love

(39:00) Q&A: How to reconcile being on your phone to learn more

(40:15) Q&A: The value of fun leisure

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