Wesley Allen-Arave
Human Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences
Department of Anthropology
University of New Mexico
portrait by Victor Maritsas
I am an anthropologist specializing in human behavioral ecology. My research draws on an evolutionary perspective to study a number of related issues in sociality. I am particularly interested in how social networks and reputations affect the range of cooperative behaviors and altruistic displays found across traditional and industrialized societies. In my research, I strive to test theoretical models of altruism with empirical data. My research into social networks, reputations, and cooperation encompasses fieldwork in Paraguay among Ache forager/horticulturists, analyses of altruistic responses in emergencies, and studies of public goods provisioning in our own society.
Outside of these academic pursuits, I am deeply interested in music.