Aaron Sell

Aaron Sell is an Assistant Professor of Psychology & Criminology at Heidelberg University in the United States. His academic work focuses on evolutionary explanations of human behavior, particularly in the domains of aggression, anger, and formidability. He is affiliated with the zIReN Network, where he contributes to research on evolutionary psychology and its applications to understanding human social behavior.

Sell earned his BA from Ohio University and his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research expertise lies in evolutionary psychology, with a particular focus on the functional design of emotions like anger and hatred. He has published extensively on topics related to aggression, formidability estimation, and the evolutionary underpinnings of social emotions.

Sell's research interests center on understanding human emotions through an evolutionary lens. He has developed and tested the recalibrational theory of anger, which posits that anger evolved as a bargaining emotion to negotiate for better treatment. His work on hatred proposes the neutralization theory, distinguishing hatred as a distinct emotion from anger. He also investigates how human perceptions of formidability influence social interactions, conflict resolution, and justice systems. His research demonstrates how modern societal institutions, particularly criminal justice systems, reflect evolved human nature and ancestral logic of conflict.

Sell's publications reveal a consistent focus on how emotions function as adaptations to solve specific social problems faced by our ancestors. His work bridges evolutionary theory with practical applications in criminology and social psychology, showing how evolved mechanisms continue to shape human behavior in modern contexts. His research on the visual and vocal assessment of physical strength has demonstrated correlations between upper body strength and perceptions of dominance, militancy, and bargaining power in social conflicts.

• BA, Ohio University
• PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Sell teaches a variety of courses including Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice, Introduction to Psychology, Methods and Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences, Psychology and the Law, Policing and Law Enforcement, Social Psychology, Senior Seminar, and Intermediate Data Science. His teaching reflects his interdisciplinary expertise spanning psychology and criminology.