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Prof Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology has been in conversation with Jim Al-Khalili on Radio 4's Life Scientific. This fascinating podcast gives takes us on a journey from his early beginnings in science, and his fascinating research and groundbreaking discoveries he's made deciphering the mysteries as to why humans and animals evolve the social habits to exist in friendship circles.

Initially, Robin commenced his studies as a philosopher. However, as fate would dictate, his zoology modules as part of his course under the leadership of Nikolaas Tinbergen nudged him towards a passion for research into animal behaviour. 

Including details of his adventures doing fieldwork in the African bush, research into animal social behaviour, before leading into his breakthroughs behind the secrets of animal human social behaviour such as his debunking of the hygiene hypothesis for social grooming and bonding and the discovery of Dunbar's number.

Listen