I’m interested in the possibility that theories from evolutionary biology can guide research in psychology. One line of my research focuses on altruism, and how people’s willingness to help kin and non-kin changes as the cost of help goes up. A second line of research focuses on conflict between parents and offspring over the offspring’s choice of mates and mating behaviour. I’ve also recently become interested in the biological and cultural evolution of religious beliefs and morality. Finally, I’ve done work on a number of other topics, including the mechanisms underlying the placebo effect, and the philosophical implications of evolutionary theory.

Before moving to Swansea, I spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster University in Canada. I was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand.

Useful Links:

The L&B research group website is: http://www.swan.ac.uk/human_sciences/Psychology/Research/LearningandBehaviour/

There is also a Learning and Behaviour Member's website

Recent Publications.

Stewart-Williams, S., (in press). Darwin, God and the Meaning of Life: How Evolutionary Theory Undermines Everything You Thought You Knew. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Stewart-Williams, S., (2008). Human beings as evolved nepotists: Exceptions to the rule and effects of cost of help. Human Nature, 19, 414-425.

Stewart-Williams, S., (2007). Altruism among kin vs. nonkin: Effects of cost of help and reciprocal exchange. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28, 193-198.

Stewart-Williams, S., (2004). The placebo puzzle: Putting together the pieces. Health Psychology, 23, 198-206.

Stewart-Williams, S., & Podd, J. (2004). The placebo effect: Dissolving the expectancy versus conditioning debate. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 324-340.