Prof Gillian Brown
Professor
Biography
I was born in Manchester, have lived in various parts of the UK and was educated at a state/comprehensive secondary school in the north-east of England, then attended the University of Cambridge for my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Following a postdoc position in Cambridge, I moved to the University of St Andrews, progressing from being a Lecturer to Reader and Professor.
Research areas
I study gender/sex differences and similarities in behaviour and cognition, and evolutionary perspectives on human behaviour. My research has previously investigated the role of gonadal hormones in the development of sex differences in behaviour in non-human animals. My current research focuses on humans, specifically topics such as gender role attitudes, partner preferences and gender-based microaggressions. More information can be found here: http://gillianbrown.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/.
Prospective postgraduate students are welcome to get in touch with me to discuss potential projects, and I am willing to supervise undergraduate research interns.
Latest edition of book: Brown, G. R. & Lala, K. N. (2024). Sense and Nonsense: Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behaviour (third edition). Oxford University Press.
PhD supervision
- Yihua Chen
- Phoebe Sadler
- Jinwen Xie
Selected publications
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Gender difference in self-reported empathy: effects of task instructions and exposure to gender essentialism primes
Rajasekhar, N., Redly, A., Nanda, S. & Brown, G., 2025, In: PLoS One. 20, 12, e0337211.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Impediments to countering racist pseudoscience
Lala, K., Brown, G. R., Twyman, K. Z. & Feldman, M., 22 Jul 2025, In: Evolutionary Human Sciences. 7, 17 p., e24.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Relationship between height preferences and endorsement of gender norms
Dial, A. & Brown, G., 7 Oct 2025, In: Human Nature. 36, 3, p. 403-423Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Revisiting the human sociobiology debate: what have we learned 50 years on?
Brown, G. R., Barrett, H. C. & Lala, K. N., 7 Aug 2025, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 389, 6760, p. 580-581 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › peer-review
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The pitfalls of an impoverished approach to culture: commentary on Baumard and André
Brown, G., 1 Nov 2025, In: Evolution and Human Behavior. 46, 6, 106746.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
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Open access
Comparability of personality facets between men and women: a test of measurement invariance in IPIP-NEO facets in 49 countries
Temizyürek, T., Richardson, G. & Brown, G. R., 1 Dec 2024, In: Journal of Research in Personality. 113, 5 p., 104551.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Feminist beliefs, not gender equality primes, shape self-reported partner preferences
Wareham, N. V., Pakozdy, C. & Brown, G. R., 1 Dec 2024, In: Sex Roles. 90, 12, p. 1751-1765 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sense and nonsense: evolutionary perspectives on human behaviour
Brown, G. R. & Lala, K. N., 13 Dec 2024, 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 264 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Open access
The imposter phenomenon and its relationship with self-efficacy, perfectionism and happiness in university students
Pakozdy, C., Askew, J., Dyer, J., Gately, P., Martin, L., Mavor, K. & Brown, G. R., Feb 2024, In: Current Psychology. 43, p. 5153–5162Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Evolutionary approaches to human behavior
Brown, G. R., Cross, C. P. & Laland, K. N., 21 Dec 2021, The behavior of animals: mechanisms, function, and evolution. Bolhuis, J. J., Giraldeau, L.-A. & Hogan, J. A. (eds.). 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, p. 456-488 33 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter