Dr. Aiyana Willard

I am interested in the area of cultural evolution and transmission. I am particularly interested in transmission of folktales, myths, and religious beliefs. This includes how certain types of content and narrative structures become high fidelity parts of culture that can survive through time and across large geographical spaces and cultural differences. I am also interested in the spread of new religions and spiritual belief around the world, as well as why human beings are a religious species in the first place.

My academic and methodological interests span beyond the boundaries of traditional psychological research. I borrow liberally from anthropology, sociology, and economics in my research. I also have a strong interest in statistics, and quantitative methods. I believe that solving problems complex cultural and cognitive systems requires collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and cross cultural research. 

Major Awards

2017: Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize, Society for Personality and Social Psychology

2017: Early Career Showcase Award, Cultural Evolution Society

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After receiving her PhD from University of British Columbia, Aiyana Willard worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Cognition, Culture, and Development Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin. She is now a Lecturer in the Centre for Culture and Evolution, Brunel University London. (website)