Helen Fisher (anthropologist)

Helen Fisher
Fisher in 2014
Born(1945-05-31)May 31, 1945
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 17, 2024(2024-08-17) (aged 79)
Bronx, New York, U.S.
Alma materNew York University (BA)
University of Colorado Boulder (MA, PhD)
Known forWhy We Love, anthropology of sex, romance, attachment and personality
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
Scientific career
FieldsAnthropology
InstitutionsThe Kinsey Institute

Helen Elizabeth Fisher[1] (May 31, 1945 – August 17, 2024) was an American anthropologist, human behaviour researcher, and self-help author. She was a biological anthropologist, a senior research fellow at The Kinsey Institute of Indiana University, and a member of the Center For Human Evolutionary Studies in the Department of Anthropology at Rutgers University.[2][3][4][5] Prior to Rutgers University, she was a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Fisher said that when she began researching for her dissertation, she considered the one thing all humans have in common – their reproductive strategies.[6] She and several collaborators authored the first MRI study to associate early-stage romantic love with brain areas such as the ventral tegmental area, which produces dopamine in response to viewing images of one's beloved.[7] In 2005, she was hired by match.com to help build chemistry.com, which used her research and experience to create both hormone-based and personality-based matching systems. She was one of the main speakers at the 2006 and 2008 TED conference.[8] On January 30, 2009, she was featured in an ABC News 20/20[9] special, Why Him? Why Her? The Science of Seduction, where she discussed her most recent research on brain chemistry and romantic love. Despite her notoriety, Fisher only co-authored two scientific studies on romantic love.[10][11]

Fisher appeared in the 2014 documentary film about heartbreak and loneliness, entitled Sleepless in New York[12] and the 2017 PBS Nova special on computerized dating, 'How to Find Love Online'.

Fisher advised that in order to sustain long-term deep attachment and romantic love, a couple should leverage neurochemistry by regularly having sex and physical contact (which drives up the oxytocin system), engaging in novel activities (which drives up the dopamine system), and saying nice things to one's partner (which reduces cortisol and cholesterol).[13]

Fisher died of endometrial cancer in the Bronx, on August 17, 2024, at the age of 79.[7][14]

  1. ^ "Fisher, Helen: --Anthropologist". Connection.ebscohost.com. Retrieved July 31, 2016.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Health Report - 6/09/99: Biology of Love". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-08-24. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  3. ^ "Stony Brook Mind/Brain Lecture Series : 10th Annual Lecture: The Drive to Love – The Biology and Evolution of Romantic Love : Guest Lecturer: Helen Fisher, Ph.D". Theswartzfoundation.org. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "BBC Science – Human Body & Mind – Science of Love". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  5. ^ "Helen Fisher | Aspen Ideas". Aspen Ideas Festival. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  6. ^ "Helen Fisher – Love and Sex and Attachment". On Being with Krista Tippett. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Helen Fisher, Who Researched the Brain's Love Circuitry, Dies at 79". The New York Times. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Browse Talks – TED.com". Ted.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  9. ^ ABC News. "The Science of Seduction: Why Him, Why Her?". ABC News. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  10. ^ Aron, Arthur; Fisher, Helen; Mashek, Debra J.; Strong, Greg; Li, Haifang; Brown, Lucy L. (July 2005). "Reward, motivation, and emotion systems associated with early-stage intense romantic love". Journal of Neurophysiology. 94 (1): 327–337. doi:10.1152/jn.00838.2004. ISSN 0022-3077. PMID 15928068.
  11. ^ Acevedo, Bianca P.; Aron, Arthur; Fisher, Helen E.; Brown, Lucy L. (2011-01-05). "Neural correlates of long-term intense romantic love". Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 7 (2): 145–159. doi:10.1093/scan/nsq092. ISSN 1749-5016. PMC 3277362. PMID 21208991.
  12. ^ Sumi, Glenn. "Sleepless in New York". Now (Review). Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  13. ^ Fisher, Helen (11 February 2016). "The science behind maintaining a happy long-term relationship". Big Think.
  14. ^ "Helen Fisher obituary: popular academic on love, attraction and sexual behaviour". The Times. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.