Ed Morrison

Ed Morrison is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth in the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences. He is a member of the Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, focusing on evolutionary approaches to human behavior, particularly mate choice and facial attractiveness. His research emphasizes the role of motion in attractiveness, using motion-capture and morphing techniques. Before joining Portsmouth, he completed a PhD at the University of Bristol on improving ecological validity in facial attractiveness research, an MSc in Evolutionary Psychology at Liverpool, and a BA in Natural Sciences (Zoology) at Cambridge.

Research Interests: Dr. Morrison explores how movement and facial dynamics influence mate selection, integrating computational methods with evolutionary theory. He investigates the biological and psychological mechanisms underlying perceptions of attractiveness, including the impact of motion, vocal cues, and chemical signals. His work also addresses broader topics like mating strategies and the evolution of social behavior.

Grants & Projects: He led the ESRC-funded project 'Strategic Modulation of Dynamic Aspects of Facial and Vocal Attractiveness' (2011-2012). Recent research spans topics like alcohol's effect on facial perception and the development of lie-detection techniques.

Awards & Activities: While no specific awards are listed, his work has been widely cited and covered in media. He actively engages in outreach, delivering invited talks at institutions like Saint Swithun's School and participating in conferences globally.

Labs & Teams: He contributes to the Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in evolutionary behavioral research.