From The Experts: Hello, Brains. Bye-Bye, Brawn.

Editor’s Note: Welcome to day three of my week of debuting some new features on So about what I said…! Today, friends, I hand the advice-giving duties over to experts in a new, regular feature From The Experts, where leaders at the forefront of psychology and relationships will discuss everything from why geeks are so chic to the latest in dating etiquette. I figure I need all the help I can get in navigating this new world, and I hope you’ll enjoy these interviews. If there are any topics, you’d like to see covered, feel free to email me at mellow1422 [at] aol [dot] com.

Today, I chatted with Dr. Nancy Irwin, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist. Our topic? The rise of one of my favorite groups of people – the glorious geek.

“Geeks/nerds are generally more generous and better listeners, less narcissistic than the studs or the jocks. They tend to be more trustworthy,” she says. Read on for more…

Why have geeks suddenly gained such credibility now?
Geeks are really chic now because, as technology is replacing humans at an alarming rate, we “need” these people more than ever. They are truly modern knights in shining armor. All the brawn in the world can’t kill a computer virus. Geeks can. Brains are replacing brawn.

Why have they been avoided as potential dates in the past?
Our archetypes are changing…the pretty boys are becoming the “bad boys” (think Brad Pitt-Jennifer Aniston-Angelina Jolie) and the geeks are now the adorable ones.
Geeks give us permission to be un-perfect. It is exhausting being around pretty boys and having to keep up. Too much competition in the beauty department of the relationship.

What can women gain by giving a geek a chance?
By giving geeks a chance, women can see what is on the inside of a person vs. focusing on the external.

What are the best hot spots for meeting a lovable geek?
Best places to meet geeks are at computer convention, science fiction sections of bookstores, the physics department of your local university, and of course wherever junk food is sold.

[Photos via Nerd Boyfriend and We Heart It]