Because human same-sex sexual behavior (SSB) is heritable and leads to fewer offspring, the maintenance of SSB-associated alleles in populations requires an explanation. While several evolutionary genetic hypotheses have been proposed, most lack strong empirical evidence. I will discuss recent UK Biobank-based genomic studies that shed light on this long-standing “Darwinian paradox."

Group Dynamics Seminar Series
The Group Dynamics Seminar series is considered one of the longest running seminar series in the social sciences. It has been running uninterruptedly since it was founded by Kurt Lewin in the 1920’s in Berlin. A very important feature of this seminar today is its interdisciplinary nature. Recent seminars have included discussions in “Law and Psychology,” “Racism and Discrimination,” “Social Media,” and “New Directions in Social Psychology.”

The Winter 2024 Series is co-sponsored by the Evolution and Human Adaptation Program (EHAP) at the University of Michigan.

Evolution and Human Behavior

What can wasps teach us about the evolution of animal minds? How does indirect reciprocity shape cooperation in human groups? Why are people vulnerable to obesity– especially in marginalized groups? This seminar series will address these questions, and more, from the perspective of evolutionary theory. The approach will draw on behavioral ecology, which views adaptive behavior as responsive to ecological variation. The speakers, from anthropology and other fields, are known for the depth of their long-term field studies in Kenya, Mali, Bangladesh, the United States, Dominica, Bolivia, the Pacific Islands, and other locales.

RCGD/EHAP Seminars will be held at ISR Thompson 1430. Where permitted by speakers, events will be recorded. The related class meets at 1 at 1450. To meet with external speakers or to find out more about these events, contact Erin Loomas at eloomas@umich.edu.