My research program focuses on how humans can decode the signals presented by others during social interactions, and how these cues can inform and affect one’s own decisions and behaviors. Specifically, I am studying mate choice interactions, and how the opinions and behaviors of individuals in our social environment can influence our choice of mates. This topic draws on ideas from cognitive psychology, evolutionary biology, animal behavior and social psychology. My dissertation utilizes a wide range of methodologies including behavioral experimentation, psychophysics, and social network analysis to study these social influences on decision making.

In the search for a mate, individuals must gather information to determine the quality of their potential suitors.  My research seeks to answer three specific questions concerning this search process. First, how do individuals rapidly decode the signals presented in flirtatious interactions, and what information and strategies are they using to ascertain their target’s mate value? Is this ability limited to interactions of which we are a part, or are individuals who are observing others interacting able to accurately predict the interest between them from across the room? Second, how does this socially-obtained knowledge affect the opinions of the observer, and can an individual’s actions be predicted based on the structure of their social environment? More specifically, in a controlled environment where every interaction between people is recorded, can we predict the mate choices individuals will make by calculating their popularity and prestige amongst single daters? Finally, how aware are individuals of this social information and their use of it? 

I am looking to extend these research methodologies to other data sources that are larger and more realistic in order to further analyze the role of deciphering social signals (whether in person or through online media), the influence of these signals, and the interplay of social environments and individual goals. While my research has developed so far in the domain of mate choice, the observations, communications, and influences within social groups are similar whether the setting is a first date, an online community, or a gathering among friends. I believe that combining rigorously controlled experimentation with observations of naturally occurring behaviors and quantitatively measuring phenomena on a large scale will lead to the greatest progress in understanding how the individual, the group, and the wider social environment interact to create global behavioral patterns.

(Updated 06/10)

My work on social influences in mate choice has been published in Evolution and Human Behavior.

Place, S. S., Todd, P. M., Penke, L., & Asendorpf, J. B. (in press) Humans show mate copying after observing real mate choices . Evolution and Human Behavior. PDF.

When searching for a mate, one must gather information to determine the mate value of potential partners. By focusing on individuals who have been previously chosen by others, one's selection of mates can be influenced by another's successful search—a phenomenon known as mate copying. We show mate copying in humans with a novel methodology that closely mimics behavioral studies with non-human animals. After observing instances of real mating interest in video recordings of speed-dates, both male and female participants show mate copying effects of heightened short-term and long-term relationship interest towards individuals in dates they perceived as successful. Furthermore, the relative attractiveness of observers and observed plays a mediating role in whom an individual will choose to copy.

(Updated 02/09)

My work on judging romantic interest has been published in Psychological Science.

Place, S. S., Todd, P. M., Penke, L., & Asendorpf, J. B. (2009). The ability to judge the romantic interest of others. Psychological Science, 20(1), 22-26. PDF.

The ability to judge another individual’s romantic interest level—both toward oneself and toward others—is an adaptively important skill when choosing a suitable mate to pursue. We tested this ability using videos of individuals on speed dates as stimuli. Male and female observers were equally good at predicting interest levels, but they were more accurate when predicting male interest: Predictions of female interest were just above chance. Observers predicted interest successfully using stimuli as short as 10 s, and they performed best when watching clips of the middle or end of the speed date. There was considerable variability between daters, with some being very easy to read and others apparently masking their true intentions. Variability between observers was also found. The results suggest that the ability to read nonverbal behavior quickly in mate choice is present not only for individuals in the interaction, but also for third-party observers.

Read about the research at MSNBC or hear my interview on NPR.