Evolutionary Psychology

New research sheds light on heterosexual men's attraction to gynandromorphs (feminine-presenting individuals assigned male at birth who retain their penises). The findings suggests that men have the capacity to become aroused by gynandromorphic individuals because of the presence of female-typical...

A recent paper introduces the Enactivist Big-5 Theory (EB5T) of personality, a framework that posits personality traits predispose individuals to an “optimal grip” of the world they inhabit. This research was published in Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences.

The new study found that when men are asked to choose body types they find attractive and those they find healthy and fertile, these body types are not the same. This research challenges past evolutionary theories and suggests environmental factors...

A recent study of Dutch men published in Frontiers in Psychology revealed that the men were likely to exaggerate when asked to self-report traits relevant to masculinity (athleticism, height, weight, and penis size). The greatest exaggeration was erect penis size,...

A new study examining how much energy males and females spend carrying babies in different positions reported that women expend less energy carrying their babies than men in all carrying positions. Carrying a baby on one’s back was the most...

A series of four studies on undergraduate students indicates that women perceive other women as more competitive than men in contexts where resources are abundant. These findings were not found in men and were not found in contexts of scarcity....

A study conducted in China indicates that the physical attractiveness of a woman significantly increases her bargaining power within her household. Income, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships were identified as possible channels through which physical attractiveness affects a woman’s power within...

New research examining the relationship between self-perceived value as a mate and one's immune system strength has revealed that individuals who report frequent illness rate themselves lower as a mate. Additionally, researchers discovered that although those with good health may...

New research published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences provides evidence that women with erect nipples are perceived as less intelligent, less moral, and more promiscuous. The findings indicate that nipple erection triggers sexualization and objectification by those who observe it.

A series of three studies showed that, when facing uncertainty, women become more attracted to men with tougher facial features. Under same conditions, men are more attracted to women with more tender facial features. The study was published in the...

Recent research challenges the notion that insecure attachment has some evolutionary adaptive benefits. It appears that secure attachment may have benefits for individuals, improving their chances of producing offspring, while anxious and avoidant attachment styles reduce the odds of producing...

Male psychology is sensitive to cues associated with the ease of sexually exploiting women. A series of three studies provide insight into cues that might aid men in their use of sexually exploitative strategies. This research was published in Evolutionary...

A content analysis exploring how women’s reputations are presented via anonymous derogatory posts on the gossip website The Dirty showed that when derogating other women, women most often focus on the sexuality and personality of their targets. The study was...

New research provides initial evidence of a link between parents' income and the sexual orientation of their adult offspring. The new findings have been published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology.