Joshua Ackerman

Joshua Ackerman is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, Department of Psychology. His research focuses on adaptive psychological mechanisms underlying decision-making and interpersonal behavior, particularly in contexts involving ecological threats (e.g., infectious diseases) and social opportunities (e.g., relationships). He explores how evolved predispositions interact with environmental cues to shape cognition and actions.

Research Interests include Behavioral Immune System, Disease Perception, Evolutionary Psychology, Social Cognition, and Consumer Behavior. Notable projects investigate sensory detection of illness, germ aversion effects on social behavior, and the influence of sex ratios on economic decisions.

He directs the ESP Lab and has published extensively on topics like pathogen threat impacts on risk tolerance, perceptions of infectiousness through sensory cues, and the psychological consequences of population density. His work bridges evolutionary theory with modern societal challenges, such as pandemic responses and consumer behavior dynamics.