S Craig Roberts

Zoologist turned psychologist, with interests in evolutionary perspectives on human behaviour and in evolutionary medicine. To varying extent, the role and importance of olfaction underpins my work in each of these areas. My work on human mate choice focuses on indicators of genetic quality and compatibility, especially how MHC genes are implicated in producing characteristic phenotypes and their influence on mate choice decisions. I am also interested in how modern cultural practices such as use of cosmetics, perfumes and hormonal contraception disrupt apparently adaptive mate preferences, and the public health consequences of these effects. Other work includes effects of colour on social perception, non-verbal human communication, determinants of facial attractiveness, communication using pheromones, and applications of evolutionary psychology in wider society.