WILLIAM COSTELLO
Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin.
Joining Dr. David Buss' Evolutionary Psychology Lab Fall 2022.
BIO
I am a Ph.D. student studying Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, where I am a member of Dr. David Buss' Evolutionary Psychology Lab.
My research will build on research started during my MSc in Psychology: Evolution and Culture at Brunel University London, where under the supervision of Prof. David Schmitt, my dissertation conducted some of the earliest primary research investigating the underlying psychological profile of "incels" (involuntary celibates).
I have presented theoretical and empirical work at academic conferences such NEEPS (Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society) Conference, the British Psychological Society Male Psychology Conference, and my poster was voted "best poster" at the University of Stirling Evolutionary Perspectives on Culture Conference.
Alongside my PhD, and I contribute as a visiting researcher with Dr. Glenn Geher's Evolutionary Psychology lab at SUNY New Paltz.
I am also a freelance writer with bylines in Quillette and Areo. My work looks at cultural issues through an evolutionary psychology lens and considers the ways in which many aspects of modernity are in tension with our evolved psychology. I have written about topics such as identity politics, racism, and sexual conflict. I have discussed my ideas as a guest on a number of podcasts and YouTube channels.
I have also debated at Universities and festivals around the UK, including the largest debate festival in Europe, the Battle of Ideas.
Check out my current research projects and get in touch if you want to collaborate or just want to chat.
EDUCATION
PH.D. INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
2022 - 2027
I will join Dr. David Buss' Evolutionary Psychology Lab at the University of Texas at Austin in the Fall of 2022.
MSC PSYCHOLOGY: EVOLUTION AND CULTURE BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON
2020 - 2021
Graduated with distinction from the MSc in Psychology: Evolution and Culture, where I was part of Prof. David Schmitt's Personality and Culture lab. Under Prof. Schmitt's supervision, my dissertation conducted some of the world's first research into the underlying psychological profile of incels (involuntary celibates).
PODCAST EPISODES
My guest appearances on different podcasts, including The Dating Economy with James Bloodworth, Two for Tea with Dr. Iona Italia, and the Incel podcast with Naama Kates.