Jordan Moon
@jordanmoon.bsky.social
Social psychologist @ University of Southampton. Formerly at Brunel University of London and Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse. PhD from Arizona State University.
Religion, morality, etc.
W: https://www.jordanwmoon.com
Religion, morality, etc.
W: https://www.jordanwmoon.com
Reposted by Jordan Moon
This video was made about our folk medicine project. It talks about our recent PNAS project, and also this study we did in Mauritius www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
December 3, 2025 at 9:24 AM
This video was made about our folk medicine project. It talks about our recent PNAS project, and also this study we did in Mauritius www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Jordan Moon
New in Science, Macaques tap to the beat.
Very cool study for its main result and its null one: consistent with nearly every other comparative study of music, monkeys don't differentiate beats by their relative strength—which even young children do innately. Monkeys have rhythm but not meter!
Very cool study for its main result and its null one: consistent with nearly every other comparative study of music, monkeys don't differentiate beats by their relative strength—which even young children do innately. Monkeys have rhythm but not meter!
Monkeys have rhythm
Synchronizing movements to music is a hallmark of human culture, but its evolutionary and neurobiological origins remain unknown. This ability requires (i) extracting a steady rhythmic pulse, or beat,...
www.science.org
November 28, 2025 at 11:45 PM
New in Science, Macaques tap to the beat.
Very cool study for its main result and its null one: consistent with nearly every other comparative study of music, monkeys don't differentiate beats by their relative strength—which even young children do innately. Monkeys have rhythm but not meter!
Very cool study for its main result and its null one: consistent with nearly every other comparative study of music, monkeys don't differentiate beats by their relative strength—which even young children do innately. Monkeys have rhythm but not meter!
Reposted by Jordan Moon
I wrote a paper on my least favourite theory of religion: HADD
It’s good, you should read it! 😆
It’s good, you should read it! 😆
1/ 🎙️ New paper by Dr Aiyana Willard argues it’s time to retire HADD = “we’re hardwired to see agents EVERYWHERE” and replace it with something that *actually* fits the evidence 🪦➡️📚
@brunelpsy.bsky.social
🔗 Read it 👇
@brunelpsy.bsky.social
🔗 Read it 👇
Belief as explanation: a motivation-based theory of agency and anthropomorphism in religious belief
Supernatural agent beliefs are ubiquitous across cultures, yet many theories aimed at explaining this fact have not held up to scrutiny. The most famous of these, the Hyperactive Agency Detection D...
www.tandfonline.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I wrote a paper on my least favourite theory of religion: HADD
It’s good, you should read it! 😆
It’s good, you should read it! 😆
Reposted by Jordan Moon
November 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by Jordan Moon
A fascinating and deeply thoughtful analysis of the different motivations for faculty diversity by @azimshariff.bsky.social --essential reading for anyone interested in this issue (either pro- or anti-DEI)
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Taking faculty diversity seriously means asking why it matters - Nature Reviews Psychology
Increasing faculty diversity is a key priority in faculty hiring across many countries, but the rationales behind it are often left undiscussed. Explicitly clarifying diversity rationales — and ensuri...
www.nature.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A fascinating and deeply thoughtful analysis of the different motivations for faculty diversity by @azimshariff.bsky.social --essential reading for anyone interested in this issue (either pro- or anti-DEI)
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Jordan Moon
🚨 The Economist has been telling you for years that polygamy causes civil war by locking men out of marriage. A new article with @rebeccasear.bsky.social and @anthrolog.bsky.social explains that the demography of marriage markets doesn't actually work that way. 🧵
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
High rates of polygyny do not lock large proportions of men out of the marriage market | PNAS
There is a widespread belief, in both the scholarly literature and the popular press,
that polygyny prevents large numbers of men from marrying by ...
www.pnas.org
October 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
🚨 The Economist has been telling you for years that polygamy causes civil war by locking men out of marriage. A new article with @rebeccasear.bsky.social and @anthrolog.bsky.social explains that the demography of marriage markets doesn't actually work that way. 🧵
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Jordan Moon
Excited to be co-organizing this year's religion and spirituality preconference with @ncaluori.bsky.social, Cindel White, and @jordanmoon.bsky.social. See Nava's great thread below for our awesome group of invited speakers. We are accepting applications for talks, data blitzes, and posters!
The @spspnews.bsky.social Religion & Spirituality Preconference is accepting applications for talks, data blitzes, & posters until 10/23! We're excited to hear from Kathleen Corriveau, @alexandraworm.bsky.social, @drmeltemyucel.bsky.social & @joshcjackson.bsky.social. More info: tinyurl.com/33x9za7r
September 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Excited to be co-organizing this year's religion and spirituality preconference with @ncaluori.bsky.social, Cindel White, and @jordanmoon.bsky.social. See Nava's great thread below for our awesome group of invited speakers. We are accepting applications for talks, data blitzes, and posters!
Reposted by Jordan Moon
There is a lot of hype about AI and empathy, but what role do we really want AI to play in enhancing empathy? 🤖 Here, Ethan Landes and I argue that AI should only develop human empathy as a tool for moral growth, not replace it 👇
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@ethanlandes.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@ethanlandes.bsky.social
OSF
osf.io
April 24, 2025 at 11:12 AM
There is a lot of hype about AI and empathy, but what role do we really want AI to play in enhancing empathy? 🤖 Here, Ethan Landes and I argue that AI should only develop human empathy as a tool for moral growth, not replace it 👇
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@ethanlandes.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@ethanlandes.bsky.social
New paper out in SPPS w/
@jaimiekrems.bsky.social
(open access)
doi.org/10.1177/1948...
People who oppose abortion typically suggest that their position is motivated by concern for the unborn. But is there more going on?
@jaimiekrems.bsky.social
(open access)
doi.org/10.1177/1948...
People who oppose abortion typically suggest that their position is motivated by concern for the unborn. But is there more going on?
March 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
New paper out in SPPS w/
@jaimiekrems.bsky.social
(open access)
doi.org/10.1177/1948...
People who oppose abortion typically suggest that their position is motivated by concern for the unborn. But is there more going on?
@jaimiekrems.bsky.social
(open access)
doi.org/10.1177/1948...
People who oppose abortion typically suggest that their position is motivated by concern for the unborn. But is there more going on?
Reposted by Jordan Moon
Are women morally wonderful? Excited by this paper, with
@jowylie.bsky.social, @anagantman.bsky.social, @lianeleeyoung.bsky.social, Peter Mende-Siedlecki, and Heleni Singer.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@jowylie.bsky.social, @anagantman.bsky.social, @lianeleeyoung.bsky.social, Peter Mende-Siedlecki, and Heleni Singer.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
March 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Are women morally wonderful? Excited by this paper, with
@jowylie.bsky.social, @anagantman.bsky.social, @lianeleeyoung.bsky.social, Peter Mende-Siedlecki, and Heleni Singer.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@jowylie.bsky.social, @anagantman.bsky.social, @lianeleeyoung.bsky.social, Peter Mende-Siedlecki, and Heleni Singer.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Jordan Moon
1/ 🌟📢 Applications for our MSc in Psychology, Culture & Evolution at @brunelpsy.bsky.social @brunelgradschool.bsky.social are OPEN for 2025/26 🎓 📢
Ever wondered how culture 🌍 and evolution 🧬 shape human behaviour? 🤔 This interdisciplinary program might be for you 🧵
Ever wondered how culture 🌍 and evolution 🧬 shape human behaviour? 🤔 This interdisciplinary program might be for you 🧵
Psychology, Culture and Evolution MSc | Brunel University of London
A research-intensive psychology master's course, allowing you to understand how culture and evolution can influence human behaviour.
www.brunel.ac.uk
March 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
1/ 🌟📢 Applications for our MSc in Psychology, Culture & Evolution at @brunelpsy.bsky.social @brunelgradschool.bsky.social are OPEN for 2025/26 🎓 📢
Ever wondered how culture 🌍 and evolution 🧬 shape human behaviour? 🤔 This interdisciplinary program might be for you 🧵
Ever wondered how culture 🌍 and evolution 🧬 shape human behaviour? 🤔 This interdisciplinary program might be for you 🧵
Reposted by Jordan Moon
Where do moralizing religions come from? Useless cognitive by-products?Cultural group selection for complex societies?
Our Psych Review paper argues: neither. Let’s rethink their cognitive & evolutionary origins🧵
w/ @manvir.bsky.social @nbaumard @jbaptistandre.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1037/rev0...
Our Psych Review paper argues: neither. Let’s rethink their cognitive & evolutionary origins🧵
w/ @manvir.bsky.social @nbaumard @jbaptistandre.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1037/rev0...
February 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Where do moralizing religions come from? Useless cognitive by-products?Cultural group selection for complex societies?
Our Psych Review paper argues: neither. Let’s rethink their cognitive & evolutionary origins🧵
w/ @manvir.bsky.social @nbaumard @jbaptistandre.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1037/rev0...
Our Psych Review paper argues: neither. Let’s rethink their cognitive & evolutionary origins🧵
w/ @manvir.bsky.social @nbaumard @jbaptistandre.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1037/rev0...
Reposted by Jordan Moon
The Manybabies4 paper is out! Infants' Social Evaluation of Helpers and Hinderers: A Large-Scale, Multi-Lab, Coordinated Replication Study onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1... 1000 babies tested in 37 labs; "Overall, 49.34% of infants preferred Helpers over Hinderers in the social condition"
Infants’ Social Evaluation of Helpers and Hinderers: A Large‐Scale, Multi‐Lab, Coordinated Replication Study
Evaluating whether someone's behavior is praiseworthy or blameworthy is a fundamental human trait. A seminal study by Hamlin and colleagues in 2007 suggested that the ability to form social evaluatio...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 27, 2024 at 11:48 AM
The Manybabies4 paper is out! Infants' Social Evaluation of Helpers and Hinderers: A Large-Scale, Multi-Lab, Coordinated Replication Study onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1... 1000 babies tested in 37 labs; "Overall, 49.34% of infants preferred Helpers over Hinderers in the social condition"
Reposted by Jordan Moon
1/ 🌟 @PNASNews Special Feature: Half a Century of Cultural Evolution 🎉
With @amesoudi.bsky.social, @glupyan.bsky.social & Pierce Edmiston, we review the field's key experimental methods, findings, and critiques—and present a new lab experiment. 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
With @amesoudi.bsky.social, @glupyan.bsky.social & Pierce Edmiston, we review the field's key experimental methods, findings, and critiques—and present a new lab experiment. 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
November 19, 2024 at 8:51 AM
1/ 🌟 @PNASNews Special Feature: Half a Century of Cultural Evolution 🎉
With @amesoudi.bsky.social, @glupyan.bsky.social & Pierce Edmiston, we review the field's key experimental methods, findings, and critiques—and present a new lab experiment. 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
With @amesoudi.bsky.social, @glupyan.bsky.social & Pierce Edmiston, we review the field's key experimental methods, findings, and critiques—and present a new lab experiment. 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Jordan Moon
📢📢📢💫 CCE's seminar series is kicking off in November with some amazing speakers lined up 💫📢📢📢
These are 🔓 open to all - in person and online - joining information shared closer to the date 📅
⏲️ Talks are scheduled between 12:30 - 14:00
@Bruneluni
These are 🔓 open to all - in person and online - joining information shared closer to the date 📅
⏲️ Talks are scheduled between 12:30 - 14:00
@Bruneluni
September 23, 2024 at 2:25 PM
📢📢📢💫 CCE's seminar series is kicking off in November with some amazing speakers lined up 💫📢📢📢
These are 🔓 open to all - in person and online - joining information shared closer to the date 📅
⏲️ Talks are scheduled between 12:30 - 14:00
@Bruneluni
These are 🔓 open to all - in person and online - joining information shared closer to the date 📅
⏲️ Talks are scheduled between 12:30 - 14:00
@Bruneluni
Reposted by Jordan Moon
Our Evolutionary Anthropology seminars are starting up again in October at UCL Anthropology. Free/open to all, and we're a friendly bunch!
evoanthucl.wixsite.com/blog/post/op...
#EvoAnth #BioAnth
evoanthucl.wixsite.com/blog/post/op...
#EvoAnth #BioAnth
Open Events: UCL Evolutionary Anthropology Term 1 Seminars 2024
Join us for our UCL Evolutionary Anthropology in-person seminars this term! These seminars are free to attend & open to all, and takes place in the Daryll Forde Seminar Room on Floor 2 of the UCL Anth...
evoanthucl.wixsite.com
September 19, 2024 at 10:10 AM
Our Evolutionary Anthropology seminars are starting up again in October at UCL Anthropology. Free/open to all, and we're a friendly bunch!
evoanthucl.wixsite.com/blog/post/op...
#EvoAnth #BioAnth
evoanthucl.wixsite.com/blog/post/op...
#EvoAnth #BioAnth
Reposted by Jordan Moon
My book SHAMANISM: THE TIMELESS RELIGION will be out on May 20, 2025! Shamanism characterized the earliest religions, echoes in often unappreciated ways in the world around us, and will long outlive us.
Pre-order it here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730339...
Pre-order it here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730339...
September 17, 2024 at 10:23 PM
My book SHAMANISM: THE TIMELESS RELIGION will be out on May 20, 2025! Shamanism characterized the earliest religions, echoes in often unappreciated ways in the world around us, and will long outlive us.
Pre-order it here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730339...
Pre-order it here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730339...
Reposted by Jordan Moon
✨📢 To all the new people joining 💙 BlueSky 💙 in recent days I think a introduction is in order
The Brunel Uni Centre for Culture and Evolution is a hub of world-leading (yes I do say myself 💅) researchers in evolutionary and cross-cultural approaches to psychology and behaviour
We DO IT ALL (ish)
The Brunel Uni Centre for Culture and Evolution is a hub of world-leading (yes I do say myself 💅) researchers in evolutionary and cross-cultural approaches to psychology and behaviour
We DO IT ALL (ish)
Centre for Culture and Evolution (CCE)
Centre for Culture and Evolution (CCE) at Brunel explores powerful influences on human behaviour
www.brunel.ac.uk
September 16, 2024 at 1:16 PM
✨📢 To all the new people joining 💙 BlueSky 💙 in recent days I think a introduction is in order
The Brunel Uni Centre for Culture and Evolution is a hub of world-leading (yes I do say myself 💅) researchers in evolutionary and cross-cultural approaches to psychology and behaviour
We DO IT ALL (ish)
The Brunel Uni Centre for Culture and Evolution is a hub of world-leading (yes I do say myself 💅) researchers in evolutionary and cross-cultural approaches to psychology and behaviour
We DO IT ALL (ish)
Reposted by Jordan Moon
📢
Applications for our MSc in Psychology, Culture and Evolution are open for 24-25 at Psychology in Brunel University
brunel.ac.uk/study/postgr...
interested in an interdisciplinary take on psychology and behaviour using cross-cultural and evolutionary approaches?
Then come study with us 🤓
Applications for our MSc in Psychology, Culture and Evolution are open for 24-25 at Psychology in Brunel University
brunel.ac.uk/study/postgr...
interested in an interdisciplinary take on psychology and behaviour using cross-cultural and evolutionary approaches?
Then come study with us 🤓
Psychology, Culture and Evolution MSc | Brunel University London
brunel.ac.uk
June 19, 2024 at 2:52 PM
📢
Applications for our MSc in Psychology, Culture and Evolution are open for 24-25 at Psychology in Brunel University
brunel.ac.uk/study/postgr...
interested in an interdisciplinary take on psychology and behaviour using cross-cultural and evolutionary approaches?
Then come study with us 🤓
Applications for our MSc in Psychology, Culture and Evolution are open for 24-25 at Psychology in Brunel University
brunel.ac.uk/study/postgr...
interested in an interdisciplinary take on psychology and behaviour using cross-cultural and evolutionary approaches?
Then come study with us 🤓
Reposted by Jordan Moon
Come do a postdoc with me in beautiful Canterbury, England and do cool stuff about the moral psychology of trust in AI 🤖
jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
April 24, 2024 at 1:12 PM
Come do a postdoc with me in beautiful Canterbury, England and do cool stuff about the moral psychology of trust in AI 🤖
jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
osf.io/preprints/ps... New preprint with @jaimiekrems.bsky.social looking at how people evaluate different policies about abortion.
December 11, 2023 at 1:43 PM
osf.io/preprints/ps... New preprint with @jaimiekrems.bsky.social looking at how people evaluate different policies about abortion.
Lots of people I know got sick last week, starting Monday. On October 30, across the world there were huge increases in searches for COVID (4x as the day before), flu (nearly 4x), and common cold (1.5x), just on that day. You see the same thing in most countries I tested, even southern hemisphere
November 6, 2023 at 6:43 PM
Lots of people I know got sick last week, starting Monday. On October 30, across the world there were huge increases in searches for COVID (4x as the day before), flu (nearly 4x), and common cold (1.5x), just on that day. You see the same thing in most countries I tested, even southern hemisphere
Reposted by Jordan Moon
My social psych lab has moved to UCLA, + we're looking for driven graduate student applicants! (Especially those interested in human friendship.)
More on the *NEW* UCLA Social Minds Lab👇.
Please RT + share with your students!
www.kremslab.com
#psych #gradschool 🧪 #Stilldontunderstand#shere
More on the *NEW* UCLA Social Minds Lab👇.
Please RT + share with your students!
www.kremslab.com
#psych #gradschool 🧪 #Stilldontunderstand#shere
UCLA Social Minds Lab
Social Psychology lab at UCLA. We do psychological science exploring friendship, women's cooperation & competition, reputation, stereotyping and prejudice.
www.kremslab.com
October 17, 2023 at 3:02 PM
My social psych lab has moved to UCLA, + we're looking for driven graduate student applicants! (Especially those interested in human friendship.)
More on the *NEW* UCLA Social Minds Lab👇.
Please RT + share with your students!
www.kremslab.com
#psych #gradschool 🧪 #Stilldontunderstand#shere
More on the *NEW* UCLA Social Minds Lab👇.
Please RT + share with your students!
www.kremslab.com
#psych #gradschool 🧪 #Stilldontunderstand#shere
Reposted by Jordan Moon
We are thrilled to announce that the Call for Abstracts for #EHBEA2024 is now open! Come join us in the picturesque and sunny city of Montpellier! To submit an abstract and/or register for the conference go to our dedicated website ehbea2024.com #BioAnth #CuluralEvolution #EvPsych
October 17, 2023 at 10:57 AM
We are thrilled to announce that the Call for Abstracts for #EHBEA2024 is now open! Come join us in the picturesque and sunny city of Montpellier! To submit an abstract and/or register for the conference go to our dedicated website ehbea2024.com #BioAnth #CuluralEvolution #EvPsych