Among vertebrates generally and humans in particular, there could scarcely be a facet of social life more central than sexuality, and there is no single variable more important in explaining individual variation than biological sex. Understanding sexuality and sex differences is fundamental to clarifying social processes and individual variations in them. These topics are the focus of our research. We take a two-pronged approach, investigating both the proximate genetic and endocrine mechanisms on the one hand, and the reasons for the evolution of these mechanisms on the other. This has been a fruitful approach: Form follows function, and one cannot fully understand any biological phenomenon without studying it at multiple levels of causation. We use a functional/evolutionary perspective to clarify and make predictions about proximate physiological mechanisms, and we use information about physiological mechanisms to inform a functional understanding.

Our research can be split into two broad categories – Evolution and Hormones & Physiology. Learn more about our work and participate in our research.