My research draws on theory in evolutionary psychology to examine how both situational and biological factors nonconsciously influence social and consumer behavior. The overarching focus of my research program is the consumer behavior of women and families. Within this program I examine:

• The hormonal mechanisms that guide women’s decision-making
• The influence of status-seeking and competition on women’s consumer choice
• The role of social influence and word-of-mouth on women’s consumption
• The environmental factors that influence family spending patterns.  

“The Fluctuating Female Vote: Politics, Religion, and the Ovulatory Cycle,” withAshley R. Arsena and Vladas Griskevicius, Psychological Science, PDF.

“Boosting Beauty in an Economic Decline: Mating, Spending, and the Lipstick Effect,” with Sarah E. Hill, Christopher D. Rodeheffer, Vladas Griskevicius and Andrew E White, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, PDF.

“Ovulation Leads Women to Perceive Sexy Cads as Good Dads”, with Vladas Griskevicius, Jeffry A. Simpson, Stephanie M. Cantu and Norman P. Li, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, PDF.

“Sex Ratio and Women’s Career Choice: Does a Scarcity of Men Lead Women to Choose Briefcase over Baby?” with Vladas Griskevicius, Jeffry A. Simpson, Stephanie M. Cantu and Joshua M. Tybur, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, forthcoming. PDF

“Ovulation, Female Competition, and Product Choice: Hormonal Influences on Consumer Behavior,” with Vladas Griskevicius, Sarah E. Hill, Carin Perilloux and Norman P. Li , Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 37, 2011, pp. 921-934. PDF

"Courtship, Competition, and the Pursuit of Attractiveness: Mating Goals Facilitate Health-Related Risk-Taking and Strategic Risk Suppression in Women,” with Sarah E. Hill, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 37, 2011, pp. 383-394. PDF

“Do Women Feel Worse to Look Their Best? Testing the Relationship between Self-Esteem and Fertility Status across the Menstrual Cycle,” with Sarah E. Hill, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 35, 2009, pp. 1592-1601. PDF

“Oestradiol Level and Opportunistic Mating in Women,” with Norman P. Li, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biology Letters, Vol. 5, 2009, pp. 179-182. PDF

“Changes in Women’s Choice of Dress across the Ovulatory Cycle: Naturalistic and Laboratory Task-Based Evidence,” with Norman P. Li and Martie G. Haselton, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 34, 2008, pp. 1451-1460. PDF