Alita Cousins

Biography

Dr. Cousins’ focus within psychology is evolutionary psychology, the study of how our evolutionary history has shaped the way we think and behave. Her Social and Evolutionary Psychology Lab is active and many of her undergraduate research assistants have presented research at professional conferences. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico.

Research Interests

• Mate choice
• Conflict in romantic relationships

Of Note

Dr. Cousins’ goal for her undergraduate research assistants is to have them present at a professional conference; two of her students won the best poster award at the Northeast Evolutionary Psychology Society conference.

Teaching Interests

• Evolutionary Psychology
• Statistics
• Human Sexuality

Publications

Cousins, A. J. & Porter, T. (2017). Darwinian perspectives on women’s progenicide. In M.L. Fisher’s (Ed.), Handbook on Women and Competition (pp. 553-574). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cousins, A.J. & Fugère, M.A. (2018). Manipulation. In T.K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes- Shackelford’s (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. NewYork: Springer.

Cousins, A.J. & Fugère, M.A. (2018). As a precursor to violence. In T.K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford’s (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York: Springer.

Cousins, A. J., Fugère, M. A. & Riggs, M. (2015). Development of the Resistance to Mate Guarding Scale. Evolutionary Psychology, 13, 106-128.

Cousins, A. J., Fugère, M. A., & Franklin, M. (2009). Digit ratio (2D:4D), mate guarding, and physical aggression in dating couples. Personality and Individual Differences, 46, 709-713.