Evolutionary Psychology

Growing up poor might slightly influence how adults respond to threats, but a large replication study found much weaker effects than past research suggested. The results call into question earlier claims about poverty, risk-taking, and decision-making.

Women’s creativity got a boost from thinking about committed relationships—but only to a point. A new study suggests that sexual arousal linked to highly desirable long-term partners may short-circuit creative thinking, highlighting a strange cost of romantic attraction.

New research isolates a key mechanism underlying food choice in uncertain environments. An experiment found that an individual's preconceived belief in future food scarcity, when combined with cues of economic hardship, significantly increases visual fixation on high-calorie food items.

Humans are often said to be the only primates with “whites of the eyes,” evolved for social communication. But a new study challenges that idea, arguing that the theory lacks evidence and oversimplifies the diversity of primate eye pigmentation.

A new study finds that people often reject meat with disgust, while vegetables are usually rejected for their taste. This difference may reflect evolved psychological defenses against pathogens—especially those hidden in animal flesh.

A new study finds fathers with higher education and income have more supportive, less controlling relationships with their daughters. Daughters who feel attractive also report stronger, more protective bonds with their fathers.

Your brain’s ancient defense system might be sabotaging your test scores. New research suggests our "behavioral immune system," which makes us subconsciously alert to signs of illness, can be triggered by coughs and sniffles.

What makes a man’s body attractive? A new international study explored this question using body scans and evolutionary models—testing which physical traits matter most. The results challenge some popular assumptions about leanness, muscle, and what people really prefer.

New research suggests our brains may be wired to expect danger in the dark. The study found that sensory deprivation and uncertainty often trigger a disturbing feeling of presence—perhaps an ancient survival response to unseen threats in our environment.

Sugar relationships may be more about sexual attitudes than survival strategies. A new study shows people drawn to these arrangements tend to favor short-term mating, while early-life unpredictability plays only a small role—especially for men.

A new study suggests that pregnant women are more likely to claim their fetus resembles the father, even during early ultrasounds when no real resemblance is visible. The behavior may be an evolved strategy to reduce paternity uncertainty and secure...

Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle appear to influence how women process social information. A new fMRI study shows that progesterone enhances attentional control toward female faces by modulating brain activity in key cognitive regions.

A new study finds that people who are dissatisfied with their height tend to feel more envious, jealous, and competitive toward same-sex peers—suggesting that how we feel about our height may influence social rivalry more than actual stature.

A new cross-cultural study finds that people across 25 countries are more likely to support dominant, authoritarian leaders when facing intergroup conflict. The results suggest that humans may have evolved psychological instincts that favor forceful leadership during times of threat.

A new study finds that women are more sensitive to disgust and contamination than men—but only when they’re younger. By older adulthood, those sex differences disappear, suggesting age plays a key role in how people respond to health threats.