Home             About Me             Research Interests             Publications & Presentations             Online Studies             CV             Links

Jealousy/Morbid Jealousy
I am currently interested in individual differences in the expression of jealousy. Previous research has shown that universally, men and women experience jealousy for different reasons, but within each sex I expect there are differences in frequency and severity of the jealousy. Together with Todd Shackelford and Aaron Goetz, I am currently studying how men who suffer from erectile dysfunction may differ from normally functioning men in their expression of jealousy and associated pre-copulatory anti-cuckoldry tactics. I am also interested in the clinical disorder of Morbid Jealousy and the experiences of the individuals who suffer from the disorder and have compiled an archival database of case histories of Morbid Jealousy fur further study.

Female Short-Term Mating
Engaging in short-term mating seems to be not in the best reproductive interest of a woman, and yet it is clear that in fact women do use this mating strategy. Previous research has provided several reasons why mated women may engage in this risky behavior, but the reasons why non-mated women do so are less clear. Working with Emily Stone, I am currently trying to clarify the delineation between long-term and short-term mating, which I think is a necessary and missing foundation in the literature.

Mate Preferences
Under what circumstances do men and women shift their mate preferences? It is most likely not beneficial to have static mate preferences across all contexts, but instead better to vary preferences based on contextual cues. Previous research supports this idea. Currently, Emily Stone, Viviana Weekes-Shackelford and I are investigating how having children may influence mate preferences.

Other Interests:
With Jaime Confer, I am currently investigating how women may increase their attempts to successfully reproduce as they reach a drop-off in their fertility. Carin Perilloux, Diana Fleischman and I are also examining the individual differences in the experience of the sexual over-perception bias. I am also interested in studying female orgasm and trying to get a better understanding of whether it is in fact an adaptation or a byproduct (does it increase reproductive success?).