Evolutionary Psychology

A recent study reveals that people who are highly open to new experiences tend to have fewer children. Scientists attribute this to delayed parenthood, shorter romantic relationships, and a lower overall drive to start a family.

You aren't imagining it—your own brand smells better. Here is the evolutionary psychology behind the phenomenon.

Despite their small numbers, incels loom incredibly large in public consciousness. A new study explains why: their stories hit our deepest evolutionary panic buttons regarding sex, status, and societal threat.

A study finds that adolescent boys increasingly mistake friendliness for sexual interest as they mature. But teenage girls rarely have their romantic advances dismissed as mere friendliness.

Critics have long dismissed evolutionary psychology as “just-so stories.” A new conceptual review challenges this view, arguing the field generates rigorous, falsifiable predictions—some of which have been decisively overturned.

Why do some find kissing more arousing than others? New data suggests that those who frequently imagine intimate scenarios are more likely to rely on kissing as a catalyst.

New research indicates that a woman's age and reproductive status influence her preferences for male secondary sexual characteristics, such as muscularity and facial hair.

Can men smell when a woman is fertile? According to new research, the answer is likely no. A detailed analysis found that conception risk does not influence the chemical profile or perceived attractiveness of intimate scents.

According to a large study published in Evolutionary Psychology, people consistently perceive family members as kinder when there is greater certainty of biological relatedness.

Human attraction to fictional characters may follow the same evolutionary rules as real-life dating. A study of anime fans found that "waifus" and "husbandos" are selected based on physical and emotional traits that mirror real-world mate selection strategies.

New research reveals a surprising trend: nations where fathers perform more childcare tend to have larger cosmetics industries. The findings suggest women may invest more in their appearance to compete for highly involved partners.

Support for redistributing wealth may stem from deep evolutionary instincts to avoid conflict. New studies reveal that the fear of being violently dispossessed and a desire to enforce equality are key predictors of progressive policy preferences.

A new study challenges the idea that facial width-to-height ratios predict male aggression. Researchers found this popular metric fails to distinguish between sexes when controlling for body size, pointing instead to simple facial width as the real evolutionary signal.

Physical vulnerability usually leads to caution, but pregnancy might change that equation. New evidence published in the British Journal of Psychology suggests perinatal women become less submissive and more dominant when facing social threats to their resources.

New research suggests women experience a distinct dip in sexual desire during the implantation window. Scientists believe this decrease may be an evolutionary adaptation to protect the body from infection when the immune system is naturally suppressed.