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Dr Aiyana Willard
Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Summary

Aiyana Willard is a Lecturer (psychology) in the Centre for Culture and Evolution at Brunel University London and a research associate at the Institute for Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford. Her research interests are in the cultural evolution of religion, karma, witchcraft and other supernatural beliefs.

Academic career:

  • Lecturer in Psychology, Brunel University London, 2018-current.
  • Postdoctoral researcher, Oxford, 2017-2018
  • Postdoctoral researcher, University of Texas at Austin, 2015-2017
  • PhD in Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2015
  • MA in Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2011

Newest selected publications

Willard, A., Baimel, A., Turpin, H., Jong, J. and Whitehouse, H. (2022) 'Rewarding the good and punishing the bad: The role of karma and afterlife beliefs in shaping moral norms'. Evolution and Human Behavior, 41 (5). pp. 385 - 396. ISSN: 1090-5138 Open Access Link

Journal article

Turpin, HD. and Willard, AK. (2022) 'Credibility Enhancing Displays, religious scandal and the decline of Irish Catholic orthodoxy'. Evolutionary Human Sciences, 4. pp. 1 - 19. ISSN: 2513-843X Open Access Link

Journal article

Baimel, A., Apicella, C., Atkinson, Q., Bolyanatz, A., Cohen, E., Handley, C., et al. (2022) 'Material insecurity predicts greater commitment to moralistic and less commitment to local deities: a cross-cultural investigation'. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 12 (1-2). pp. 4 - 17. ISSN: 2153-599X Open Access Link

Journal article

Purzycki, BG., Willard, AK., Klocová, EK., Apicella, C., Atkinson, Q., Bolyanatz, A., et al. (2022) 'The moralization bias of gods’ minds: a cross-cultural test'. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 12 (1-2). pp. 38 - 60. ISSN: 2153-599X Open Access Link

Journal article

Vardy, T., Moya, C., Placek, CD., Apicella, CL., Bolyanatz, A., Cohen, E., et al. (2022) 'The religiosity gender gap in 14 diverse societies'. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 12 (1-2). pp. 18 - 37. ISSN: 2153-599X Open Access Link

Journal article
More publications(34)