James Roney

James Roney is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara's College of Letters & Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology/Human Development from the University of Chicago (2002) and directs the Human Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory.

His research integrates evolutionary theory with endocrinology to investigate hormone-behavior relationships, focusing on mating psychology. Key areas include: 1) Hormonal responses during mate encounters 2) Ovarian hormone fluctuations across menstrual cycles 3) Androgen receptor gene influences on partner preferences. Studies employ psychoneuroendocrinological methods to identify adaptive hormone-behavior pathways.

Publication analyses reveal consistent investigation of: 1) Hormonal codes for human attraction 2) Cycle-phase dependent motivational shifts 3) Stress-reproduction axis interactions. Recent work examines cortisol-cognition relationships and longitudinal hormone-behavior dynamics.

• Margo Wilson Award (2020, 2017)

Collaborative projects with anthropologists and biologists examine cross-species comparisons of endocrine signaling systems. The lab employs ecological momentary assessment and behavioral experiments to capture real-time hormone-behavior linkages.