Ayers Psychology & Evolution Lab
Director: Dr. Jessica D. Ayers
Boise State University
Welcome to the APE Lab!
About the APE Lab
We study the behavioral manifestations of genetic conflict - or how the genes we inherit from our parents “fight” with each other and the impact that this conflict has on behavior and psychological processes. You can learn more about some of the nuances in genetic conflict here. Specifically, we are interested in how understanding how these “disagreements” at the genetic level influence the ways individuals grow, develop, behave, and, ultimately, influence their social relationships during their lives including maternal-fetal relationships, familial and affinal (in-law) relationships, and friendships and rivalries.
Dr. Jessica D. Ayers
Director and PI
Dr. Jessica D. Ayers is an Evolutionary Social Psychologist and the director of the APE Lab at Boise State University. As an undergraduate, Dr. Ayers realized that she was interested in one simple question: why do people act the way they do? Her interest in this question led Dr. Ayers to earn her bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Anthropology and her M.A. in Experimental Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Arizona State University.
Find out more about Dr. Ayers at www.jessicadayers.org or @JessicaDAyers
APE Lab members Spring 2023
Left to right: Conner Avila, Glenn Reese, Zoe Lister, Madelyn Cardwell, Caley Lynch, Abigail Elliott, Megan Hughes, Dr. Ayers
Not pictured: Elyse Englestadter
APE Lab members Fall 2022
Left to right: Dr. Ayers, Abigail Elliott, Madelyn Cardwell, Ranya Al-Mandawi, Megan Hughes
Not pictured: Megan Kirtner, Stela Nina
Recent Lab Publications
Here are some of the recently published lab research projects. For a complete list of Dr. Ayers' publications, please see her Google Scholar profile.
COVID-19 and friendships: Agreeableness and neuroticism are associated with more concern about COVID-19 and friends' risky behaviors
Published in Personality and Individual Differences in October 2023. Read more here.
Competitive scenarios increase competition in women: A meta-analysis
Published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences in early 2023. Read more here.
A factor analytic examination of women's and men's friendship preferences
Published in Personality and Individual Differences in February 2023. Read more here.
Join the APE Lab!
If you are interested in joining the APE Lab as a research assistant, please reach out to Dr. Ayers directly with any questions. You can also read more about the APE Lab culture and values in the APE Lab manual.
If you are ready to apply, please download the application below and send it to Dr. Ayers directly.
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