Have you ever questioned why people are repeatedly attracted to certain kinds of partners? Explore the power of collective beliefs and how these shape — sometimes even shift — individual romantic preferences. Tune in for a compelling look into how societal influences on love choices learn thoughtful tools for deeper self-reflection.
Meet Georgi Gardiner
Georgi Gardiner is a philosopher at the University of Tennessee specializing in epistemology and meta-philosophy. She earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers University and previously held the Andrew Fraser Junior Research Fellowship at St. John’s College, Oxford. Her research spans topics such as understanding, explanation, virtue epistemology, and the ethics of belief.
Georgi’s current work explores evidence law, the epistemology of rape, and the role of statistical evidence in judgment, with growing interest in the epistemic impact of attention and doubt. She also engages with philosophy of science, social philosophy, and the philosophy of sex.
About the episode
In this episode of Reloscope, Georgi defines relationships as ubiquitous and deeply important, emphasizing that their endings do not signify failure. She values the differences in relationships, citing neighborliness versus professional connections as examples. Georgi appreciates the unique distance in each type of relationship.
Georgi believes media and advertising significantly shape people’s understanding of love and attraction. She points out how advertising steers preferences, using the aversion to women’s body hair as an example of societal influence. Also, language plays a powerful role, with terms like “holiday romance” influencing experiences and self-conceptions.
Georgi also explores how labels impact love experiences, directing attention and aiding sense-making. She uses the term “alterous attraction” or “squish” to illustrate how having a label can help individuals understand their feelings towards friends, preventing confusion with romantic or sexual attraction. She also touches on the term “limerence” and how it affects people’s understanding of love and obsessive infatuation.
In conclusion
Georgi Gardiner explores how media, language, and societal labels shape people’s perceptions of love, attraction, and emotional experience. Her reflections highlight the nuanced and evolving nature of human relationships. Through this lens, she encourages deeper self-awareness and acceptance of the complex dynamics that influence romantic ideals.
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