07/25/07

I approach a variety of aspects of human behavior and experience from an integrative perspective in which humans are viewed as both the products of complex evolutionary processes and the possessors of acquired cultural idea systems and behavioral patterns (for a brief review of my ideas concerning the relationship between evolutionary psychology and general anthropology, click here).  My research, itself an ever-evolving process, currently focuses on a number of domains including: emotion; sex and reproduction; food and eating; violence and risk-taking; and conformity and cooperation.  Below is a sampling of some of the domains that I have dabbled in to date.

In one set of projects I a) investigate the evolution of human shame, pride, anger, and disgust b) examine the use of shame as a mechanism of social control, c) consider the influence of shame and anger on violent and risky behavior, d) explore the functional utility of disgust, and e) explore the role of emotions in cooperative behavior.

In a second set of projects I a) examine pregnancy sickness as an evolved adaptation that protects immunosuppressed women from the dangers of meat-borne pathogens, b) investigate sex differences in meat consumption, c) explore the role of disgust in the centrality of animal products as targets of food taboos, and d) examine changes in prophylactic behaviors and attitudes as a function of reproductive immunomodulation.

In a third set of projects, I a) examine the influence of starvation on impulsive behavior, b) investigate Catholic stigmata as a consequence of fasting-induced indifference to risk, and c) consider the ethical implications of starvation-induced psychological changes in hunger strikers.

In a fourth set of projects, I a) examine sexual dimorphism in foot size proportionate to body size, and b) explore the role of proportionate foot size in judgments of attractiveness.