Professor of psychology Douglas T. Kenrick made many discoveries in evolutionary psychology, cognitive science and dynamical systems theory. He wrote more than 170 scientific papers, most of which applied evolutionary ideas to human cognition and behavior. Read more about the scientist and his innovative views on i-queens.
Early life
Douglas was born on June 3, 1948 in Queens. His family was uneducated and involved in crime, which influenced Kenrick’s desire to investigate the motives of certain human actions. His father and brother were imprisoned in Sing Sing, a maximum-security prison in New York state. His uncle had a reputation as a mobster.
As a teenager, Kenrick experienced the results of an improper upbringing. He was twice expelled from school and almost from college. In 1976, he received his PhD in social psychology from Arizona State University. There, he works as a professor of psychology.
Important conclusions
Kenrick liked to study the influence of fundamental social motivations (self-defense, status and finding a partner) on basic cognitive processes. In some of his early studies, the psychologist found that exposure to very attractive people (for example, TV stars) led people to underestimate the beauty of their partners. In addition, after such encounters, people may even reduce their commitment to their romantic partners.
Kenrick disproved the common assumption that women are only attracted to older men because of the traditions of American society. He found this tendency all over the world, especially in more traditional societies. According to his findings, women reach their peak fertility in their late teens and early 20s. At this time, they are most attractive to men because of fertility and not due to their youth. Women are more likely to look for men with status and resources, which mostly correlates with older age.
The professor also researched that self-protective individuals are particularly sensitive to potential threats from men from outgroups. This is explained by the neutral expressions on the faces of unfamiliar men, which allegedly broadcast hidden anger.
Main works
Kenrick edited several books and wrote many scientific articles and chapters in books on evolutionary psychology. He is the author of two textbooks on psychology and social psychology. In addition, the psychologist wrote a blog for Psychology Today magazine called Sex, Murder and the Meaning of Life.
He also published the book Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity are Revolutionizing our View of Human Nature. This book explores humans. Kenrick revealed interesting aspects of human nature. He focused readers’ attention on selfishness, which is closely related to our greatest achievements.
This book creates a comprehensive view of the principles that govern our lives. As Kenrick declares, under the mask of civilization hide hyenas, full of murderous tendencies and sexual fantasies. The author argues that simple and selfish mental mechanisms inherited from ancestors give rise to a multifaceted social life and some positive traits, such as generosity or family. Kenrick offers a detailed picture of what makes us caring, creative and complex human beings.
In the book, the author often refers to personal stories, such as his numerous expulsions from school, Irish criminal relatives, etc. This book is an exploration of our mental biases and failures, as well as the great successes of the human mind.
Douglas T. Kenrick co-authored The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think with Vladas Griskevicius. The authors try to understand why usually three out of four professional football players go bankrupt, how illiterate jungle dwellers can pass a test that fools Harvard philosophers, etc.
Griskevicius and Kenrick emphasize that our choices are often irrational and biased. The authors present a new perspective on human decision-making based on evolutionary science. From investing money to choosing a job, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, everything is driven by deep-seated evolutionary goals.
Together with his son David E. Lundberg-Kenrick, Douglas T. Kenrick published the book Solving Modern Problems With a Stone-Age Brain: Human Evolution and the Seven Fundamental Motives. Sharing stories and advice based on the evolutionary psychology, the authors point out the dangers of solving Stone Age problems for today. They represent a new systematic pathway to survive and be happy in the modern world. Thanks to interesting stories and science-based life advice, the book provides useful information about ways to achieve what you want.