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Associate Professor of Psychology Singapore
Mangement University Psychology Today blog |
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My overall
research objective is to uncover the intricate processes that underlie human
psychological mechanisms. In carrying out this objective, I utilize an
interdisciplinary approach. This involves drawing from both social
psychological theory, with its emphasis on individual differences and
interactions, and evolutionary theory, with its focus on adaptive functioning
and link to findings in areas including ethology, anthropology, and biology.
In addition, microeconomics, with its emphasis on the marginal cost/benefit
analyses in which individual agents engage, is especially useful when viewing
competitive social processes and adaptive tradeoffs. In
examining human social behavior, I favor not only the use of effective
experimental methods that social psychologists have devised, but also the
incorporation of analytical tools from other disciplines. For instance, using
methods from microeconomics, my colleagues and I were able to address a
paradox in the mate choice literature: although social and evolutionary
psychologists have pointed out why physical attractiveness should be
important to men and status should be important to women, these
characteristics never show up at the top of the lists when people have
considered their ideal mates. By applying a budget allocation process and a
mate screening paradigm, we were able to effectively distinguish between
characteristics in a potential mate that are “necessities” and those
that are “luxuries.” Our studies revealed that when considering
long-term mates, men tend to prioritize finding a sufficient level of
physical attractiveness, and women tend to prioritize obtaining sufficient
social status. In other words, when looking for mates, most people ideally
would like to have well-rounded mates who are attractive, intelligent,
creative, financially well-off, etc. However, when choices are highly
constrained, men tend to treat physical attractiveness as a necessity whereas
women treat attractiveness as a luxury, and social status as a necessity (Li,
Bailey, Kenrick, & Linsenmeier, 2002; Li & Kenrick, 2006). Budget
allocation materials can be accessed in the above link. I have also
published in the areas of dynamical systems – its integration with
evolutionary psychology (e.g., Kenrick, Li, & Butner), hormones and
mating strategy (Durante & Li, 2009), and the adaptive functions of humor
(Li et al., in press). The hectic modern world is different in many ways from
the small, close-knit villages that humans and their brains evolved in. In
this regard, I am interested in examining how modern cultural inputs interact
with otherwise adaptive mechanisms to affect mental health. Much of my
research looks at mating. Considerations of mating are central to
reproduction, and thus, evolutionarily important. As such, mating permeates
the affect, cognitions, and behaviors of people in all cultures. So, it is a
great area to analyze (plus it is never dull). Nevertheless, an important
aspect of my research is that the tools that are developed in my lab can be
applied rewardingly to investigate other domains of social and business life.
If you work in mating or in any other area, chances are that these methods
can be used in your lab. Similarly, your methods may be applicable in mine. I
welcome new collaborators to contact me. |
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