Peter K. Jonason, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Ph.D., New Mexico State University, 2009, Social Psychology
M.A., University of Connecticut, 2003, Communication Science
B.S., University of Connecticut, 2000, Political Science and Communication Science

Phone: 860-450-6658
Email: Email me

Discipline: Social Psychology
Others: Personality, Relationships, Psychometrics, Evolutionary Psychology

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

I am a social-personality psychologist who uses evolutionary psychology, comparative psychology, microeconomics, and behavioral ecology to understand mating psychology and personality. The majority of my research today focuses on the personality traits called the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, & Machiavellianism). I am interested in how these traits are measured, outcomes of these traits, but, more importantly, what do they measure in a latent fashion. In addition, I have continually been interested not in documenting global sex differences in mating psychology or documenting the varied ways in which men and women get what they want in terms of their mating goals but, instead, in understanding the specifics of individual tactics like relationship-type choice, mate-searching strategies, and how men and women influence the market-forces surrounding individuals. Essentially I am interested in the manner in which evolutionary constraints could have shaped decision-making processes across and between the sexes.

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Selected Publications

Jonason, P.K., Li, N.P., & Richardson, J. (2010). Positioning the booty-call on the spectrum of relationships: Sexual but more emotional than one-night stands. Journal of Sex Research, 47, 1-10.

Jonason, P.K., Li, N.P., & Cason, M.J. (2009). The "booty call": A compromise between men and women’s ideal mating strategies. Journal of Sex Research, 46, 1-11.

Jonason, P.K., & Tost, J. (2010). I just cannot control myself: The Dark Triad and Self-Control. Personality and Individual Differences, 49, 606-610.

Jonason, P.K.. Li, N.P., Webster, G.W., & Schmitt, D.P. (2009). The Dark Triad: Facilitating short-term mating in men. European Journal of Personality, 23, 5-18.

Jonason, P.K., & Webster, G.D. (2010). The Dirty Dozen: A concise measure of the Dark Triad. Psychological Assessment, 22, 420-432.

Li, N.P., Griskevicius, V., Durante, K.M., Jonason, P.K., Pasisz, D.J., & Aumer, K. (2009). An evolutionary perspective on humor: Sexual selection or interest indication? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 923-936.

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Classes Taught