Projects in Evolutionary Psychology Supervised by Keelah Williams
Professor Williams will supervise research projects in evolutionary psychology in Fall 2024. Depending on the students’ interest and demonstrated preparation, projects will involve either (1) conducting a literature review and writing a research proposal or (2) collecting data and writing an empirical paper. Projects must relate to the topics described below.
Evolution and Human Behavior
Humans have faced recurrent adaptive challenges throughout our evolutionary history. How might this influence our psychology today? How do fundamental goals pursued by all human beings (e.g., avoiding disease, finding mates, acquiring resources, caring for kin) shape behaviors ranging from electing leaders to purchasing consumer products? My research draws upon evolutionary theory to help understand behavior in areas as diverse as cooperation, social influence, prejudice, and punishment. I am open to working with students seeking to apply an evolutionary lens to a variety of social phenomena.
Friendship Psychology
Friendships are essential to human thriving, yet they have received far less attention in the psychological literature than romantic relationships. My research explores how people navigate the many challenges of friendship, including choosing and being chosen as a friend, keeping/maintaining existing friendships, and ending detrimental relationships.
Emotions and Law
A growing body of literature applies psychological principles to a legal context. My research focuses on how emotions influence legal decision-making. For example, do expressions of disgust increase jurors’ tendency to conform? Does feeling contempt towards an offender increase people’s willingness to impose a death sentence?