Geoffrey Miller
Geoffrey Miller is a British-American evolutionary psychologist and author of the books Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior (2009), The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature (2000), and The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think (2012). He is a professor at the University of New Mexico, where he teaches evolutionary psychology.
Miller's works center on a variety of topics related to evolutionary psychology, including the evolutionary basis of human behavior, sexual selection, consumer behavior, and cognition. He has written extensively on both the psychological and biological aspects of evolutionary psychology, arguing that evolutionary forces have shaped both human behavior and cognitive abilities. For example, in Spent, he explores how evolutionary pressures have led to our modern consumerist societies and their emphasis on status-seeking and material rewards. Similarly, in The Mating Mind, he argues that humans evolved psychological and behavioral traits designed to increase their reproductive success and chances of survival.
Miller emphasizes the importance of evolution in understanding human psychology and behavior. According to his approach, evolutionary forces are largely responsible for shaping our psychological capabilities and personality traits. He often draws on examples from the animal kingdom to illustrate evolutionary processes and their effects on human behavior. Miller's work emphasizes the idea that evolution is an ongoing process and that our modern psychological tendencies can often be traced back to earlier evolutionary adaptations.
In terms of research and publications, Miller has authored or co-authored several books and monographs, as well as more than 100 articles and book chapters. His articles have been published in various journals, including Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Psychological Science, and Science. He also authors popular science books and articles, aimed at a general audience.
Miller is a prolific speaker, often speaking on topics related to his research and the topics of evolutionary psychology and consumer behavior. He has given numerous lectures and seminars at universities and public lectures. He has also published several books aimed at a general audience, including Spent: Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior (2009) and The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature (2000).
Overall, Geoffrey Miller is an important intellectual figure in the field of evolutionary psychology. His research explores the evolutionary basis of human behavior and cognition, and his publications have been widely praised for their high quality and insight. The topics of his works range from consumer behavior to mating strategies, and his books and articles offer both rigorous scientific exploration and accessible explanations of evolutionary psychology for the general public. His highly relevant and comprehensive works are ideal for those interested in evolutionary psychology and its implications.