By 'evo bollocks' I assume you mean evolution and scientific research into behaviour, chemical & physiology changes? I would add to it that there have been a lot ethnographic data and cultural changes as well as the structure of societies which have had a tremendous impact.
In fact one could argue that most of the evolution has been at the pyschological and pathological level and not at the physical level. The chemical secretions have not changed. People still emit the same pheromones and chemicals like oxytocin. The brain works the same with neurotransmitters firing off to try to make sense if the external stimuli by creating connections and feeding these back as paterns & memory matching.
The only difference now is the chemicals can be bought over the Internet. Salesmen love spraying themselves down with oxytocin to make it easier to sell you that used car. Sure the secondary market is psychopaths and guys desperate to get women into bed.I know a magician who swears by his special cologne whichs people more suggestionable. Fascinating!
Lots of recent studies have been done to show that despite all the changes and living in a modern society we still have the 'human condition' as part of the same animal kingdom with similarities to apes still evident.
Never watched TopGear but it sounds dreadful. If it indeed it is as stupid as you say it is. And I thought all that nonsense about horroscopes was bad.
This is my favourite source - www.apa.org/pubs/journals/
This is a brilliant article - but you need to register - paid subscription.
www.apa.org/pubs/journals/men/index.aspx
Apologies that you found the links too dumb for you but I was trying to find a link for free that referenced the same research and factual principles of what happens when people fall for love tactics.
I take your point that it does seem dumb that despite all the evolution we still have some serious shortcomings in being able to overcome 'hard wiring'.
My current work is looking at how cults still successfully operate, pyramid marketing schemes, advertising, consumerism, religion etc. still can influence us. Be great if there was a pill we could take or give to people to 'wake them up' from their delusions but we can't.
The only option so far is education, laws to protect people who take advantage of human shortcomings and continued research as well as support.