Psychology collaboration leads to new handbook

The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology and Behavioral Endocrinology, just published by the Oxford University Press, is edited by Oakland University’s Associate Professor of Psychology, Lisa L.M. Welling, Ph.D., and Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology Todd K. Shackelford, Ph.D.

The handbook is described as a “comprehensive and compelling review of research in behavioral endocrinology from an evolutionary perspective on human psychology.” The work explores a number of subtopics within the themes of development and survival, reproductive behavior, and social and affective behavior.

Professors Welling and Shackelford were assisted on the project by 56 contributing scholars from seven countries, including five graduate students at OU.

“The idea for the handbook came about as we realized there was a lot of overlap in our areas of interest that hadn’t been addressed,” said Professor Welling. “Then, we called upon experts from around the world to help us take on the topics we felt were most important.”

“We believe this handbook establishes a new field that integrates evolutionary psychology with behavioral endocrinology, and we are hopeful it will gain a great deal of national and international attention,” added Professor Shackelford. “Working with Lisa, and our other interdisciplinary collaborators over the past three years, gives this book a unique complementary perspective.”

Some of topics in the book include hormonal influences on life choices, mate selection, aggression, human hierarchical structure, reproductive behavior and mood disorders.

Welling and Shackelford believe the text will appeal to a broad spectrum of researchers, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students who are interested in studying the motivations and mechanisms that affect behavior.

Learn more by visiting the Oxford University Press webpage.

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