Dr Andrew Thomas

Senior Lecturer

Psychology

a.g.thomas@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 801
Eighth Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5251-7923

About

I research sex differences and relationship preferences from an evolutionary perspective. My current research projects involve answering the questions:

What attributes do people find attractive in a partner?
Under what circumstances do people change the types of relationships they desire (e.g., short- vs. long-term relationships)?
How different are the sexes in their mate criteria?
Which aspects of mating psychology are universal and which are more influenced by culture?

Prior to my current post, I completed my PhD at Swansea University, UK under the supervision of Dr Steve Stewart-Williams. Before that I received a BSc(Hons) degree in Psychology from Cardiff University, UK. I’m currently a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Areas Of Expertise

Evolutionary Psychology
Sex Differences
Relationship Satisfaction
Mate Preferences
Cross-cultural Psychology

Publications

Research Highlights

Yong, J., Lim, C., Jonason, P., & Thomas, A. (2024). Income and Sex Moderate the Association Between Population Density and Reproduction: A Multilevel Analysis of Life History Strategies Across 23 Nations. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02955-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67169
Costello, W., Whittaker, J., & Thomas, A. (n.d.) Predicting Harmful Attitudes and Beliefs Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): How Potent is the Black-Pill?. OSF Preprints
https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/avhnf, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67166
Stewart‐Williams, S., Leong, C., Seto, S., Thomas, A., & Wong, X. (2024). The harm hypothesis: How perceived harm to women shapes reactions to research on sex differences. International Journal of Psychology, 59(3), 495-504.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.13101, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67167
O, J., Aspden, T., Thomas, A., Chang, L., Ho, M., Li, N., & Vugt, M. (2024). Mind the gap: Development and validation of an evolutionary mismatched lifestyle scale and its impact on health and wellbeing. Heliyon, 10(15), e34997
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34997, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67168
Whittaker, J., Thomas, A., & Costello, W. (2024). Predicting Harm Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): The Roles of Mental Health, Ideological Belief and Social Networking
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65641
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cdf458130549000c867a83/140224+SISNET+Incel+Report.pdf

All Research

Journal Articles

Costello, W., Rolon, V., Thomas, A., & Schmitt, D. (2024). The Mating Psychology of Incels (Involuntary Celibates): Misfortunes, Misperceptions, and Misrepresentations. The Journal of Sex Research, 61(7), 989-1000.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2248096, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64509
O, J., Aspden, T., Thomas, A., Chang, L., Ho, M., Li, N., & Vugt, M. (2024). Mind the gap: Development and validation of an evolutionary mismatched lifestyle scale and its impact on health and wellbeing. Heliyon, 10(15), e34997
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34997, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67168
Yong, J., Lim, C., Jonason, P., & Thomas, A. (2024). Income and Sex Moderate the Association Between Population Density and Reproduction: A Multilevel Analysis of Life History Strategies Across 23 Nations. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02955-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67169
Stewart‐Williams, S., Leong, C., Seto, S., Thomas, A., & Wong, X. (2024). The harm hypothesis: How perceived harm to women shapes reactions to research on sex differences. International Journal of Psychology, 59(3), 495-504.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.13101, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67167
Playfoot, D., Quigley, M., & Thomas, A. (2024). Hey ChatGPT, give me a title for a paper about degree apathy and student use of AI for assignment writing. The Internet and Higher Education, 62, 100950
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2024.100950, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63962
Apostolou, M., Sullman, M., Birkás, B., Błachnio, A., Bushina, E., Calvo, F., Costello, W., Dujlovic, T., Hill, T., Lisun, Y., Manrique‐Millones, D., Manrique‐Pino, O., Meskó, N., Nechtelberger, M., Ohtsubo, Y., Ollhoff, C., Przepiórka, A., Putz, Á., Tagliabue, M...., & Font‐Mayolas, S. (2024). Strategies for becoming a more desirable mate: Evidence from 14 countries. Personal Relationships, 31(1), 4-23.
https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12521, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64641
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pere.12521
Thomas, A., Harrison, S., Mogilski, J., Stewart-Williams, S., & Workman, L. (2024). Polygamous Interest in a Mononormative Nation: The Roles of Sex and Sociosexuality in Polygamous Interest in a Heterosexual Sample from the UK. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53(2), 611-627.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02749-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65778
Kennair, L., Thomas, A., Buss, D., & Bendixen, M. (2023). Examining the Sexual Double Standards and Hypocrisy in Partner Suitability Appraisals Within a Norwegian Sample. Evolutionary Psychology, 21(1), 147470492311656
https://doi.org/10.1177/14747049231165687, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66230
Apostolou, M., Sullman, M., Birkás, B., Błachnio, A., Bushina, E., Calvo, F., Costello, W., Dujlovic, T., Hill, T., Lajunen, T., Lisun, Y., Manrique-Millones, D., Manrique-Pino, O., Meskó, N., Nechtelberger, M., Ohtsubo, Y., Ollhoff, C., Przepiórka, A., Putz, Á...., & Font-Mayolas, S. (2023). Mating Performance and Singlehood Across 14 Nations. Evolutionary Psychology, 21(1), 147470492211501
https://doi.org/10.1177/14747049221150169, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62300
Wisman, A. & Thomas, A. (2022). In the Heat of the Short-Term Moment: Evidence that Heightened Sexual Arousal Increases Short-Term Mating Motivation Among Men. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 9(2), 148-162.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-022-00347-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62301
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40806-022-00347-8
Dorison, C., Lerner, J., Heller, B., Rothman, A., Kawachi, I., Wang, K., Rees, V., Gill, B., Gibbs, N., Ebersole, C., Vally, Z., Tajchman, Z., Zsido, A., Zrimsek, M., Chen, Z., Ziano, I., Gialitaki, Z., Ceary, C., Lin, Y...., & Coles, N. (2022). In COVID-19 Health Messaging, Loss Framing Increases Anxiety with Little-to-No Concomitant Benefits: Experimental Evidence from 84 Countries. Affective Science, 3(3), 577-602.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-022-00128-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60252
Costello, W., Rolon, V., Thomas, A., & Schmitt, D. (2022). Levels of Well-Being Among Men Who Are Incel (Involuntarily Celibate). Evolutionary Psychological Science, 8, 375-390.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-022-00336-x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61213
Stewart‐Williams, S., Wong, X., Chang, C., & Thomas, A. (2022). Reactions to research on sex differences: Effect of sex favoured, researcher sex, and importance of sex-difference domain.. British Journal of Psychology, 113(4), 960-986.
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12580, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60311
Jonason, P. & Thomas, A. (2022). Being More Educated and Earning More Increases Romantic Interest: Data from 1.8 M Online Daters from 24 Nations. Human Nature, 33(2), 115-131.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-022-09422-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59771
Bago, B., Kovacs, M., Protzko, J., Nagy, T., Kekecs, Z., Palfi, B., Adamkovic, M., Adamus, S., Albalooshi, S., Albayrak-Aydemir, N., Alfian, I., Alper, S., Alvarez-Solas, S., Alves, S., Amaya, S., Andresen, P., Anjum, G., Ansari, D., Arriaga, P...., & Aczel, B. (2022). Situational factors shape moral judgements in the trolley dilemma in Eastern, Southern and Western countries in a culturally diverse sample. Nature Human Behaviour, 6(6), 880-895.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01319-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60251
Thomas, A., Legate, N., Ngyuen, T., Weinstein, N., Moller, A., Legault, L., Vally, Z., Tajchman, Z., Zsido, A., Zrimsek, M., Chen, Z., Ziano, I., Gialitaki, Z., Ceary, C., Jang, Y., Lin, Y., Kunisato, Y., Yamada, Y., Xiao, Q...., & Thomas, A. (2022). A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(22)
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111091119, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60250
Thomas, A., Legate, N., Ngyuen, T., Weinstein, N., Moller, A., Legault, L., Vally, Z., Tajchman, Z., Zsido, A., Zrimsek, M., Chen, Z., Ziano, I., Gialitaki, Z., Ceary, C., Jang, Y., Lin, Y., Kunisato, Y., Yamada, Y., Xiao, Q...., & Thomas, A. (2022). A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(22)
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111091119, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60250
Stewart-Williams, S., Wong, X., Chang, C., & Thomas, A. (2022). People react more positively to female- than to male-favoring sex differences: A direct replication of a counterintuitive finding. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0266171
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266171, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59772
White, S., Thomas, A., & Davies, J. (2021). The effects of sex and outcome expectancies on perceptions of sexual harassment. PLOS ONE, 16(12), e0261409
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261409, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58948
Apostolou, M., Birkás, B., Silva, C., Esposito, G., Hsu, R., Jonason, P., Karamanidis, K., O, J., Ohtsubo, Y., Putz, Á., Sznycer, D., Thomas, A., Valentova, J., Varella, M., Kleisner, K., Flegr, J., & Wang, Y. (2021). Reasons of Singles for Being Single: Evidence from Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan and the UK. Cross-Cultural Research, 55(4), 319-350.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10693971211021816, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59773
Wang, K., Goldenberg, A., Dorison, C., Miller, J., Uusberg, A., Lerner, J., Gross, J., Agesin, B., Bernardo, M., Campos, O., Eudave, L., Grzech, K., Ozery, D., Jackson, E., Garcia, E., Drexler, S., Jurković, A., Rana, K., Wilson, J...., & Moshontz, H. (2021). A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(8), 1089-1110.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01173-x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60249
Thomas, A., Stone, B., Bennett, P., Stewart-Williams, S., & Kennair, L. (2021). Sex Differences in Voyeuristic and Exhibitionistic Interests: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Sociosexuality and Sexual Compulsivity from an Evolutionary Perspective. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(5), 2151-2162.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-01991-0, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57428
Stewart‐Williams, S., Chang, C., Wong, X., Blackburn, J., & Thomas, A. (2021). Reactions to male‐favouring versus female‐favouring sex differences: A pre‐registered experiment and Southeast Asian replication. British Journal of Psychology, 112(2), 389-411.
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12463, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57429
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12463
Thomas, A., Kowal, M., Sorokowski, P., Żelaźniewicz, A., Nowak, J., Orzechowski, S., & Crewther, B. (2021). Modest Exercise-Induced Increases in Testosterone Concentration Are Not Associated with Mating Strategy Change in Healthy Young Men. Evolutionary Psychological Science
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-021-00275-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56165
Thomas, A., Armstrong, S., Stewart-Williams, S., & Jones, B. (2021). Current Fertility Status Does Not Predict Sociosexual Attitudes and Desires in Normally Ovulating Women. Evolutionary Psychology, 19(1), 147470492097631
https://doi.org/10.1177/1474704920976318, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56166
Thomas, A., Jonason, P., Blackburn, J., Kennair, L., Lowe, R., Malouff, J., Stewart‐Williams, S., Sulikowski, D., & Li, N. (2019). Mate preference priorities in the East and West: A cross‐cultural test of the mate preference priority model. Journal of Personality
https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12514, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51967
Cousins, A., Young, H., Thomas, A., & Benton, D. (2019). The Effect of Hypo-Hydration on Mood and Cognition Is Influenced by Electrolyte in a Drink and Its Colour: A Randomised Trial. Nutrients, 11(9), 2002
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51537
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu11092002
Stewart‐Williams, S., Chang, C., Wong, X., Blackburn, J., & Thomas, A. (2019). Reactions to male‐favouring versus female‐favouring sex differences: A pre‐registered experiment and Southeast Asian replication. British Journal of Psychology
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12463, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51534
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12463
Thomas, A. & Stewart-Williams, S. (2018). Mating strategy flexibility in the laboratory: Preferences for long- and short-term mating change in response to evolutionarily relevant variables. Evolution and Human Behavior, 39(1), 82-93.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2017.10.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36154
Crewther, B., Thomas, A., Stewart-Williams, S., Kilduff, L., Cook, C., & Kilduff, L. (2017). Is salivary cortisol moderating the relationship between salivary testosterone and hand-grip strength in healthy men?. European Journal of Sport Science, 17(2), 188-194.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1220628, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29299
Stewart-Williams, S., Butler, C., & Thomas, A. (2017). Sexual History and Present Attractiveness: People Want a Mate With a Bit of a Past, But Not Too Much. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(9), 1097-1105.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1232690, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35983
Stewart-Williams, S. & Thomas, A. (2013). The ape that thought it was a peacock: Does evolutionary psychology exaggerate sex differences?. Psychological Inquiry, 24, 137-168.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2013.804899, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14627
Stewart-Williams, S. & Thomas, A. (2013). The ape that kicked the hornet's nest: Response to commentaries on "The Ape that Thought It Was a Peacock". Psychological Inquiry, 24, 248-271.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2013.823831, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16880
Thomas, A. & Johansen, M. (2012). Inside out: Avatars as an indirect measure of ideal body self-presentation in females. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 6(3)
https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2012-3-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35986
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84871864818&partnerID=MN8TOARS
Costello, W., Whittaker, J., & Thomas, A. (n.d.) Predicting Harmful Attitudes and Beliefs Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): How Potent is the Black-Pill?. OSF Preprints
https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/avhnf, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67166

Book Chapters

Thomas, A. (2018). Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Lowering Partner Standards in a Short-Term Mating Context (pp. 1-3).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_264-1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa43232

Other Research Outputs

Whittaker, J., Thomas, A., & Costello, W. (2024). Predicting Harm Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): The Roles of Mental Health, Ideological Belief and Social Networking
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65641
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cdf458130549000c867a83/140224+SISNET+Incel+Report.pdf
Thomas, A. (2015). On the Plasticity of Human Mating Strategies: Experimental Evidence for Mating Strategy Change in Response to Evolutionarily Relevant Stimuli
https://doi.org/10.23889/Suthesis.41184, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51535
Thomas, A. (2015). On the Plasticity of Human Mating Strategies: Experimental Evidence for Mating Strategy Change in Response to Evolutionarily Relevant Stimuli
https://doi.org/10.23889/Suthesis.41184, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa41184

Supervision

Untitled (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Jason Davies
Sensory processing sensitivity: Exploring the sensory, perceptual and emotional experiences and behaviours of the Highly Sensitive Person. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Mark Blagrove
Using an Evolutionary Psychological Approach to Understand Sex-Specific Pathways to Sexual Harassment. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Jason Davies
Mental health and cognitive distortions across different types of singlehood (current)

MSc

Other supervisor: Prof Nicola Gray

Taught Modules

PSY318 Evolutionary Perspectives on Romantic and Sexual Relationships

In this module, students will explore the full timeline of intimate relationships from the development of mate preferences, to mate choice and relationship formation, to relationship satisfaction and dissolution. Students will examine these topics from within an evolutionary framework using a variety of hypotheses derived from key evolutionary theories (e.g., sexual strategies theory, error management theory) to address important questions such as ¿What do people want in their mate and when do these preferences develop?¿, ¿How do people make trade-offs when selecting their partners?¿, ¿What makes people happy in their relationships?¿, ¿How and why do relationships end?¿. Importantly, we will also try to understand the ultimate reasons for these questions (¿Why is this the case?¿). Special attention will be paid to evolutionary explanations of maladaptive and/or harmful mating behaviors, such as paraphilic disorders and sexual harassment.
PSY319 Independent Research Project

Students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a member of staff. The research topic is decided in conjunction with supervisors and Research topics. Students must design, conduct, analyse and write up a piece of research in order to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They must also complete an Ethical Considerations Form, showing that they have considered and resolved ethical issues relating to their project, and that they have implemented appropriate best practices for improving the reproducibility of their research.
PSY319W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol

Mae myfyrwyr yn cynnal prosiect ymchwil annibynnol dan oruchwyliaeth aelod o staff. Penderfynir ar bwnc yr ymchwil ar y cyd â goruchwylwyr a phynciau Ymchwil. Rhaid i fyfyrwyr ddylunio, cynnal, dadansoddi ac ysgrifennu darn o ymchwil er mwyn cyflawni Sail Graddedig ar gyfer Siarter gyda Chymdeithas Seicolegol Prydain (BPS). Rhaid iddynt hefyd lenwi Ffurflen Ystyriaethau Moesegol, gan ddangos eu bod wedi ystyried a datrys materion moesegol sy'n ymwneud â'u prosiect, a'u bod wedi gweithredu arferion gorau priodol ar gyfer gwella atgynyrchioldeb eu hymchwil.
PSY325 Independent Research Project - Joint Honours

Students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a member of staff. The research topic is decided in conjunction with supervisors and research topics. Students must design, conduct, analyse and write up a piece of research in order to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They must also complete an ethical considerations form, showing that they have considered and resolved ethical issues relating to their project, and that they have implemented appropriate best practices for improving the reproducibility of their research.
PSY325W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol - Anrhydeddau ar y Cyd

Mae myfyrwyr yn cynnal prosiect ymchwil annibynnol dan oruchwyliaeth aelod o staff. Penderfynir ar bwnc yr ymchwil ar y cyd â goruchwylwyr a phynciau ymchwil. Rhaid i fyfyrwyr ddylunio, cynnal, dadansoddi ac ysgrifennu darn o ymchwil er mwyn cyflawni Sail Graddedig ar gyfer Siarter gyda Chymdeithas Seicolegol Prydain (BPS). Rhaid iddynt hefyd lenwi ffurflen ystyriaethau moesegol, gan ddangos eu bod wedi ystyried a datrys materion moesegol sy'n ymwneud â'u prosiect, a'u bod wedi gweithredu arferion gorau priodol ar gyfer gwella atgynyrchioldeb eu hymchwil.

Affiliated Positions

Founding Member, Welsh Evolutionary Psychology Network (WEPN)

2019 - Present

Dr Andrew Thomas

Email address

Twitter Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

Other Research Outputs

Supervision

Untitled (current)

Sensory processing sensitivity: Exploring the sensory, perceptual and emotional experiences and behaviours of the Highly Sensitive Person. (current)

Using an Evolutionary Psychological Approach to Understand Sex-Specific Pathways to Sexual Harassment. (current)

Mental health and cognitive distortions across different types of singlehood (current)

Taught Modules

PSY318 Evolutionary Perspectives on Romantic and Sexual Relationships

PSY319 Independent Research Project

PSY319W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol

PSY325 Independent Research Project - Joint Honours

PSY325W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol - Anrhydeddau ar y Cyd

Affiliated Positions

Founding Member, Welsh Evolutionary Psychology Network (WEPN)