Welcome to the Evolutionary Social Psychology (ESP) Lab at Michigan! We conduct experimental research on a variety of psychological topics that are informed by evolutionary thinking. In doing so, we ask not only what people do, but why and how our ancestral histories might have influenced such behaviors. We investigate questions such as:
- How has the threat of infectious disease shaped (and continue to shape) our preferences, behaviors, and self-concepts?
- Why do some people like taking risks and others want to play it safe?
- How do nonconscious biases help people solve adaptive problems?
- How do people psychologically cope with dangers in their current and past environments?
If you are an undergraduate interested in joining our lab, please email our lab manager, Spencer, for more information! Prospective graduate students should apply to the Social Psychology area. I do anticipate taking a new graduate student for 2018.
