Naturally Selected

Sex

Watching the World Cup: The Tribal Psychology of Football

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on June 13, 2014

Is the World Cup football in Brazil a ritualized form of primitive warfare? Is watching football good or bad for your physical and mental health? Why do football players attract so much sexual attention? Do the tribal colors the football teams wear at the World Cup predict their success? The World Cup in Brazil viewed through the lens of an evolutionary psychologist

Is the World Cup football in Brazil a ritualized form of primitive warfare? Is watching football good or bad for your physical and mental health? Why do football players attract so much sexual attention? Do the tribal colors the football teams wear at the World Cup predict their success? The World Cup in Brazil viewed through the lens of an evolutionary psychologist

Leadership

Does Putin Suffer From the Napoleon Complex?

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on May 7, 2014

Is there such a thing as the Napoleon Complex? And does it apply to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his need for power?

Is there such a thing as the Napoleon Complex? And does it apply to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his need for power?

Wisdom

The Wisdom of Crowds and the Search for Flight MH370

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on March 19, 2014

Can the Wisdom of Crowds effect be used to solve the mystery of Flight MH370? Are the masses more intelligent than the experts?

Can the Wisdom of Crowds effect be used to solve the mystery of Flight MH370? Are the masses more intelligent than the experts?

Career

Coping with Status Loss: The Hidden Cost of Unemployment

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on January 2, 2014

Being unemployed affects your social status. The consequences of status loss for your mental and physical health are real, but underappreciated by society. I refer to the status-health association as the Titanic effect. As Europe still faces massive unemployment, it is time for policy makers to consider these risks to avoid another Titanic disaster.

Being unemployed affects your social status. The consequences of status loss for your mental and physical health are real, but underappreciated by society. I refer to the status-health association as the Titanic effect. As Europe still faces massive unemployment, it is time for policy makers to consider these risks to avoid another Titanic disaster.

Charisma

The Charismatic Appeal of Nelson Mandela

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on December 8, 2013

How do we explain the charismatic appeal of Nelson Mandela? His outstanding personal qualities made a difference. Yet his charismatic powers were primarily a reflection of the anxieties, needs and desires of his nation, South-Africa, and the world at large.

How do we explain the charismatic appeal of Nelson Mandela? His outstanding personal qualities made a difference. Yet his charismatic powers were primarily a reflection of the anxieties, needs and desires of his nation, South-Africa, and the world at large.

Environment

Does Green Improve Your Self-control?

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on November 6, 2013

Does nature improve self-control? Recent studies suggest that exposure to natural landscapes makes people less impulsive in their decision-making, whereas exposure to urban landscapes increases their impulsiveness. With the majority of the world now living in cities we must find creative ways to connect with nature, particularly for kids who struggle with self-control.

Does nature improve self-control? Recent studies suggest that exposure to natural landscapes makes people less impulsive in their decision-making, whereas exposure to urban landscapes increases their impulsiveness. With the majority of the world now living in cities we must find creative ways to connect with nature, particularly for kids who struggle with self-control.

The talent myth suggests that star players do not neccessarily raise team performances. When there are too many stars in a team conflicts emerge and natural hierarchies disappear, This has huge implications for the effectiveness of teams in business and sports like football (soccer) where record fees are being paid to bring in star players.

Career

Being Helpful at Work Pays...Quite Literally!

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on August 20, 2013

Being a good, prosocial employee pays off in the end: Research shows that individuals with a good reputation are preferred as co-workers. They even get a higher starting salary i a new job. So nice guys and girls get a head start in their working career.

Being a good, prosocial employee pays off in the end: Research shows that individuals with a good reputation are preferred as co-workers. They even get a higher starting salary i a new job. So nice guys and girls get a head start in their working career.

Ethics and Morality

How the Myth of Self-interest Caused the Global Crisis

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on July 10, 2013

The global financial crisis and the collapse of banks and businesses could have been prevented if we designed our firms and nations based on a sound understanding of human nature. So make way Homo Economicus!

The global financial crisis and the collapse of banks and businesses could have been prevented if we designed our firms and nations based on a sound understanding of human nature. So make way Homo Economicus!

Leadership

The Sound of a Leader: CEOs With Deep Voices Do Better

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on June 28, 2013

Why do we prefer John as manager over Mary? Why does CEO Peter earn more money than CEO Matthew? The surprising answer is that their voice may have something to do with it.

Why do we prefer John as manager over Mary? Why does CEO Peter earn more money than CEO Matthew? The surprising answer is that their voice may have something to do with it.

Career

What Your Name Says About You, Loud and Clear

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on June 23, 2013

What's in a baby name? Should we name our son Thomas or Henry and should we name our daughter Lily or Allison? Baby names may reflect a desire among parents to have more masculine sons and more feminine daughters, according to the latest research.

What's in a baby name? Should we name our son Thomas or Henry and should we name our daughter Lily or Allison? Baby names may reflect a desire among parents to have more masculine sons and more feminine daughters, according to the latest research.

Leadership

5 Insights Into Female Leadership from Watching Borgen

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on June 2, 2013

There are many important lessons about leadership in works of fiction. The cult Scandinavian politics TV series Borgen is no exception. The main character is a woman, Birgitte Nyborg, the Prime Minister of Denmark. The series offer some great insights into female versus male leadership, perhaps with a sad conclusion.

There are many important lessons about leadership in works of fiction. The cult Scandinavian politics TV series Borgen is no exception. The main character is a woman, Birgitte Nyborg, the Prime Minister of Denmark. The series offer some great insights into female versus male leadership, perhaps with a sad conclusion.

Depression

Why We (and Only We) Cry

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on May 12, 2013

We all cry, but what are the biological and evolutionary functions behind the tears that we shed? Why are humans the only animal capable of producing tears when experiencing joy or sorrow? Here are some clues based on the latest scientific findings and the book and movie "Life of Pi."

We all cry, but what are the biological and evolutionary functions behind the tears that we shed? Why are humans the only animal capable of producing tears when experiencing joy or sorrow? Here are some clues based on the latest scientific findings and the book and movie "Life of Pi."

Leadership

Why the Eyes Always Have It

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on April 14, 2013

New research shows that your leadership and status is determined by whether people look in the direction of where you are looking. Gaze following is an underappreciated contributor to leadership and followership in humans. Our estimate is that about 90% of your influence as a leader is determined by nonverbal cues like gazes, faces, gestures, and sounds.

New research shows that your leadership and status is determined by whether people look in the direction of where you are looking. Gaze following is an underappreciated contributor to leadership and followership in humans. Our estimate is that about 90% of your influence as a leader is determined by nonverbal cues like gazes, faces, gestures, and sounds.

Parenting

5 Best Stone Age Parenting Practices

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on March 8, 2013

As parents we often wonder what is the best way to raise our children. We should find out more about how families in traditional societies bring up their children because such societies may have evolved adaptive parenting styles. Here are some of the best practices of parenting the Stone Age way.

As parents we often wonder what is the best way to raise our children. We should find out more about how families in traditional societies bring up their children because such societies may have evolved adaptive parenting styles. Here are some of the best practices of parenting the Stone Age way.

Leadership

5 Reasons Why It Sucks to Have Power

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on January 26, 2013

There is much psychological evidence to suggest that having power makes you less effective as a person, colleague, or a leader in business or politics. Here are the key scientific facts about power. So why do people crave power? It makes little sense according to the data. There is a Great Power Myth in our society.

There is much psychological evidence to suggest that having power makes you less effective as a person, colleague, or a leader in business or politics. Here are the key scientific facts about power. So why do people crave power? It makes little sense according to the data. There is a Great Power Myth in our society.

New scientific insights show that homosexuality is a perfectly natural sexual orientation. Why homosexuality evolved in humans and what its functions remain an open question. Here are some key biological hypotheses.

Friends

Why Facebook Does Not Get You More Friends

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on December 9, 2012

Facebook has not changed the way we interact with each other. We have no more true friendships in the Facebook era than we had before. This is because of the costs of maintaining friendships and the limits of our social brain.

Facebook has not changed the way we interact with each other. We have no more true friendships in the Facebook era than we had before. This is because of the costs of maintaining friendships and the limits of our social brain.

Hormones

The Fluctuating Female Vote

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on November 13, 2012

New research suggests that woman’s voting and political preferences may be influenced where she is in her ovulatory cycle.

New research suggests that woman’s voting and political preferences may be influenced where she is in her ovulatory cycle.

Leadership

Will Height Decide the 2012 Presidential Election?

Mark Van Vugt Ph.D. on October 23, 2012

If all one needs to win a US presidential election is to be taller than one’s opponent, it will be an easy victory for Mitt Romney. But does height matter in predicting the outcome of US presidential elections?

If all one needs to win a US presidential election is to be taller than one’s opponent, it will be an easy victory for Mitt Romney. But does height matter in predicting the outcome of US presidential elections?