Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychologists have often argued that richer, more egalitarian societies amplify innate differences between men and women. However, two decades-long studies of Americans suggest otherwise, finding that rising wealth and gender equality do not widen the psychological divide.

A recent study shows that a person's facial and bodily attractiveness are closely linked in the eyes of observers. However, the human voice operates independently, sending a separate biological message to potential partners.

Unlike other primates, female humans have permanent breasts. Researchers now suggest this unique anatomical trait evolved to provide essential body heat to infants with large, energy-demanding brains.

Is the pronounced gap in throwing ability between men and women purely a product of childhood socialization? A new commentary argues that evolutionary biology and social experience actually work hand-in-hand to shape this distinct sex difference.

We often assume a smart enough AI will eventually become conscious. But a new theoretical framework argues consciousness evolved specifically for biological self-preservation—meaning today's highly capable AI lacks the survival stakes to ever truly "wake up."

A study published in the EvoS Journal: Evolutionary Studies and Higher Education presented results of an online experiment that asked participants how much they would like to interact with a social media profile of a creative individual who also suffers...

A sweeping new study of world leaders spanning six decades finds that those with wider facial proportions are slightly more likely to initiate military action, particularly during their first few years in office.

Our assumptions about a man's parenting abilities might be written all over his face. New research reveals that men with wider facial proportions are instinctively stereotyped as highly motivated protectors of children, but less interested in nurturing.

People who consider themselves highly desirable romantic partners also tend to report higher overall self-worth. A recent meta-analysis of data from nearly 12,000 individuals confirmed a strong positive association between self-perceived mate value and global self-esteem.

Women identified more than 9,000 possible ways of preventing or responding to sexual violence, with the strategies they suggested varying according to who posed the threat and whether an assault had already occurred.

A new psychological study reveals that women's competitive reactions toward romantic and social rivals are driven by their baseline personality traits. Hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle did not predict how women responded to hypothetical threats.

For years, researchers believed a specific facial ratio signaled male aggression and dominance. A new evaluation overturns this idea, showing that facial proportions do not differ between sexes, but absolute facial width tells a different story.

People may be more willing to help strangers who seem agreeable and conscientious, partly because these traits make the person more likeable, according to research published in Evolutionary Psychological Science.