Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research overview
I study gender/sex differences and similarities in behaviour and cognition, and evolutionary perspectives on human behaviour. My research has previously investigated the role of gonadal hormones in the development of sex differences in behaviour in non-human animals. My current research focuses on humans, specifically topics such as gender role attitudes, partner preferences and gender-based microaggressions. More information can be found here: http://gillianbrown.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/.
Prospective postgraduate students are welcome to get in touch with me to discuss potential projects, and I am willing to supervise undergraduate research interns.
Latest edition of book: Brown, G. R. & Lala, K. N. (2024). Sense and Nonsense: Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behaviour (third edition). Oxford University Press.
Biography
I was born in Manchester, have lived in various parts of the UK and was educated at a state/comprehensive secondary school in the north-east of England, then attended the University of Cambridge for my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Following a postdoc position in Cambridge, I moved to the University of St Andrews, progressing from being a Lecturer to Reader and Professor.
Academic/Professional Qualification
PhD, University of Cambridge
BA Hons, Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Gillian Brown is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Gender difference in self-reported empathy: effects of task instructions and exposure to gender essentialism primes
Rajasekhar, N., Redly, A., Nanda, S. & Brown, G. R., 12 Dec 2025, In: PLoS One. 20, 12, e0337211.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Impediments to countering racist pseudoscience
Lala, K., Brown, G. R., Twyman, K. Z. & Feldman, M., 22 Jul 2025, In: Evolutionary Human Sciences. 7, 17 p., e24.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Relationship between height preferences and endorsement of gender norms
Dial, A. & Brown, G., 7 Oct 2025, In: Human Nature. 36, 3, p. 403-423Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Revisiting the human sociobiology debate: what have we learned 50 years on?
Brown, G. R., Barrett, H. C. & Lala, K. N., 7 Aug 2025, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 389, 6760, p. 580-581 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › peer-review
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The pitfalls of an impoverished approach to culture: commentary on Baumard and André
Brown, G., 1 Nov 2025, In: Evolution and Human Behavior. 46, 6, 106746.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Datasets
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Risky Spaceships - dataset
Brand, C. O. (Creator), Brown, G. R. (Creator) & Cross, C. P. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 14 Jun 2023
DOI: 10.17630/e73d64ee-120d-4658-91bc-3369c1ef1af2
Dataset
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Feminist beliefs, not gender equality primes, shape self-reported partner preferences (dataset)
Wareham, N. V. (Creator), Pakozdy, C. (Creator) & Brown, G. R. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 25 Oct 2024
DOI: 10.17630/c0e0a36b-737e-4a6d-97bd-e73bfa692652
Dataset
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The ‘imposter phenomenon’ and its relationship with perfectionism, self-efficacy and belonging in university students (dataset)
Pakozdy, C. (Creator), Askew, J. (Data Collector), Dyer, J. (Data Collector), Gately, P. (Data Collector), Martin, L. (Contributor), Mavor, K. (Contributor) & Brown, G. R. (Supervisor), University of St Andrews, 24 May 2023
DOI: 10.17630/f93ea09a-e913-44f9-9214-9559b6238ea0
Dataset
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Relationship between height preferences and endorsement of gender norms (dataset)
Dial, A. (Creator) & Brown, G. R. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 29 Jan 2025
DOI: 10.17630/34becbed-bb82-4743-8eeb-08e987c59a81
Dataset
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Temizyürek et al 'Comparability of personality facets between men and women: a test of measurement invariance in IPIP-NEO facets in 49 countries' (dataset)
Temizyürek, T. (Creator), Richardson, G. (Contributor) & Brown, G. R. (Supervisor), University of St Andrews, 22 Nov 2024
DOI: 10.17630/2e63ae0e-bc46-4c8d-8c6f-503f06b8ec82
Dataset
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Projects
- 2 Finished
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Sex differences in the brain: Sex Differences in Brain & Behaviour: Activational & Organisational Effects of Steriod Hormones
Brown, G. (PI)
1/09/06 → 31/08/10
Project: Standard
Activities
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Sex differences in the brain: a critique of the ‘hardwired’ metaphor.
Brown, G. R. (Speaker) & Hines, M. (Speaker)
2017Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
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Evolutionary perspectives on sex differences in behaviour.
Brown, G. R. (Speaker)
2015Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
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European Human Behaviour & Evolution Society (External organisation)
Brown, G. R. (Participant)
2012 → 2015Activity: Membership types › Membership of peer review panel or committee
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Organiser of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) conference, 18th-19th August, 2011
Brown, G. R. (Organiser)
18 Aug 2011Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a conference
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Organiser of the European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association (EHBEA) conference (6th-8th April, 2009, St Andrews)
Brown, G. R. (Organiser)
2009 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a conference