Overview
Background
Brendan's PhD studies were based in the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, where he investigated the genetics of sexual behaviour. He joined UQ in 2010 on a UQ Postdoctoral Fellowship, followed by an ARC DECRA and then an ARC Future Fellowship.
His work focuses on understanding the evolutionary and genetic underpinnings of human behaviour, in terms of what humans are like in general and what makes individuals differ from one another. Topics include personality, sexual and romantic preferences and choices, mental and physical determinants of attractiveness, sex differences and masculinity/femininity, and evolutionary modelling.
Availability
- Associate Professor Brendan Zietsch is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychological Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Brendan Zietsch’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Emerging insights into the genetics and evolution of human same-sex sexual behavior
Felesina, Thomas and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2025). Emerging insights into the genetics and evolution of human same-sex sexual behavior. Trends in Genetics. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.005
2025
Journal Article
Risk of childlessness in help-seeking men with Peyronie’s disease—A Swedish longitudinal study
Kuja-Halkola, Ralf, Henningsohn, Lars, Zietsch, Brendan, Larsson, Henrik and Cederlöf, Martin (2025). Risk of childlessness in help-seeking men with Peyronie’s disease—A Swedish longitudinal study. PLoS ONE, 20 (1 January) e0315948, e0315948. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315948
2024
Journal Article
Deep neural networks generate facial metrics that overcome limitations of previous methods and predict in-person attraction
Zhao, Amy A.Z. and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2024). Deep neural networks generate facial metrics that overcome limitations of previous methods and predict in-person attraction. Evolution and Human Behavior, 45 (6) 106632, 106632. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2024.106632
2024
Journal Article
Speed-dating and simulation data explain the discrepancy between stated and revealed mate preferences
Zhao, Amy A. Z., Zietsch, Brendan P., Sidari, Morgan J. and Lee, Anthony J. (2024). Speed-dating and simulation data explain the discrepancy between stated and revealed mate preferences. European Journal of Personality. doi: 10.1177/08902070241286254
2024
Journal Article
Genomic findings and their implications for the evolutionary social sciences
Zietsch, Brendan P. (2024). Genomic findings and their implications for the evolutionary social sciences. Evolution and Human Behavior, 45 (4) 106596. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2024.106596
2024
Journal Article
Resolving the evolutionary paradox of consciousness
Zietsch, Brendan P. (2024). Resolving the evolutionary paradox of consciousness. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. doi: 10.1007/s11097-024-09978-7
2024
Journal Article
The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: Male Same-Sex Attraction as the Product of Selection for Paternal Care via Antagonistic Pleiotropy
Felesina, Thomas and Zietsch, Brendan (2024). The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: Male Same-Sex Attraction as the Product of Selection for Paternal Care via Antagonistic Pleiotropy. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53 (5), 1731-1745. doi: 10.1007/s10508-023-02780-7
2023
Journal Article
Intergenerational transmission of ADHD behaviors: genetic and environmental pathways
Kleppesto, Thomas H., Eilertsen, Espen Moen, van Bergen, Elsje, Sunde, Hans Fredrik, Zietsch, Brendan, Nordmo, Magnus, Eftedal, Nikolai Haahjem, Havdahl, Alexandra, Ystrom, Eivind and Torvik, Fartein Ask (2023). Intergenerational transmission of ADHD behaviors: genetic and environmental pathways. Psychological Medicine, 54 (7), 1309-1317. doi: 10.1017/s003329172300315x
2023
Journal Article
Laughter and ratings of funniness in speed-dating do not support the fitness indicator hypothesis of humour
Wainwright, Henry M., Zhao, Amy A.Z., Sidari, Morgan J., Lee, Anthony J., Roberts, Natalie, Makras, Tiah and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2023). Laughter and ratings of funniness in speed-dating do not support the fitness indicator hypothesis of humour. Evolution and Human Behavior, 45 (1), 75-81. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2023.09.005
2023
Journal Article
Burt uses a fallacious motte-and-bailey argument to dispute the value of genetics for social science
Zietsch, Brendan P., Abdellaoui, Abdel and Verweij, Karin J H (2023). Burt uses a fallacious motte-and-bailey argument to dispute the value of genetics for social science. The Behavioral and brain sciences, 46 e231. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X22002394
2023
Journal Article
Evidence from millions of births refutes the Trivers-Willard hypothesis in humans
Harper, Kaitlyn T. and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2023). Evidence from millions of births refutes the Trivers-Willard hypothesis in humans. Evolution and Human Behavior, 45 (1), 127-128. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2023.07.002
2023
Journal Article
Objectively measured facial traits predict in-person evaluations of facial attractiveness and prosociality in speed-dating partners
Zhao, Amy A.Z., Harrison, Keagan, Holland, Alexander, Wainwright, Henry M., Ceccato, Jo-Maree, Sidari, Morgan J., Lee, Anthony J. and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2023). Objectively measured facial traits predict in-person evaluations of facial attractiveness and prosociality in speed-dating partners. Evolution and Human Behavior, 44 (4), 315-323. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2023.05.001
2023
Journal Article
No evidence that sociosexual orientation moderates effects of conception probability on women’s preferences for male facial masculinity
Lee, Anthony J., Jones, Benedict C., Zietsch, Brendan P., Jern, Patrick, Connolly, Henry and Marcinkowska, Urszula M. (2023). No evidence that sociosexual orientation moderates effects of conception probability on women’s preferences for male facial masculinity. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 10245, 1-6. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37404-6
2023
Journal Article
No evidence that religious celibacy confers inclusive fitness benefits: a comment on: ‘Religious celibacy brings inclusive fitness benefits’ Micheletti <i>et al.</i> (2022)
von Pein, Lachlan I., Harper, Kaitlyn T. and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2023). No evidence that religious celibacy confers inclusive fitness benefits: a comment on: ‘Religious celibacy brings inclusive fitness benefits’ Micheletti et al. (2022). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290 (2001) 20230176. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0176
2022
Journal Article
The role of accurate self-assessments in optimizing mate choice
Harper, Kaitlyn T., Stanley, Fiona, Sidari, Morgan J., Lee, Anthony J. and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2022). The role of accurate self-assessments in optimizing mate choice. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 50 (4), 1461672221135955-596. doi: 10.1177/01461672221135955
2022
Journal Article
Elevated Psychiatric Risk in Same-Sex Married Individuals: Large-scale Evidence is Consistent with a Substantial Role of Familial Common Causes
Zietsch, Brendan P. (2022). Elevated Psychiatric Risk in Same-Sex Married Individuals: Large-scale Evidence is Consistent with a Substantial Role of Familial Common Causes. Journal of Sex Research, 60 (5), 1-4. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2134285
2021
Journal Article
Associations between the CADM2 gene, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and self-control: A phenome-wide association study
Arends, Rachel M., Pasman, Joëlle A., Verweij, Karin J.H., Derks, Eske M., Gordon, Scott D., Hickie, Ian, Thomas, Nathaniel S., Aliev, Fazil, Zietsch, Brendan P., van der Zee, Matthijs D., Mitchell, Brittany L., Martin, Nicholas G., Dick, Danielle M., Gillespie, Nathan A., de Geus, Eco J.C., Boomsma, Dorret I., Schellekens, Arnt F.A. and Vink, Jacqueline M. (2021). Associations between the CADM2 gene, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and self-control: A phenome-wide association study. Addiction Biology, 26 (6) e13015, e13015. doi: 10.1111/adb.13015
2021
Journal Article
Author Correction: Genomic evidence consistent with antagonistic pleiotropy may help explain the evolutionary maintenance of same-sex sexual behaviour in humans
Zietsch, Brendan P., Sidari, Morgan J., Abdellaoui, Abdel, Maier, Robert, Långström, Niklas, Guo, Shengru, Beecham, Gary W., Martin, Eden R., Sanders, Alan R. and Verweij, Karin J. H. (2021). Author Correction: Genomic evidence consistent with antagonistic pleiotropy may help explain the evolutionary maintenance of same-sex sexual behaviour in humans. Nature Human Behaviour, 5 (9), 1259-1259. doi: 10.1038/s41562-021-01210-9
2021
Journal Article
Genomic evidence consistent with antagonistic pleiotropy may help explain the evolutionary maintenance of same-sex sexual behaviour in humans
Zietsch, Brendan P., Sidari, Morgan J., Abdellaoui, Abdel, Maier, Robert, Långström, Niklas, Guo, Shengru, Beecham, Gary W., Martin, Eden R., Sanders, Alan R. and Verweij, Karin J. H. (2021). Genomic evidence consistent with antagonistic pleiotropy may help explain the evolutionary maintenance of same-sex sexual behaviour in humans. Nature Human Behaviour, 5 (9), 1251-1258. doi: 10.1038/s41562-021-01168-8
2021
Journal Article
Testing the extreme male brain hypothesis: is autism spectrum disorder associated with a more male-typical brain?
van Eijk, Liza and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2021). Testing the extreme male brain hypothesis: is autism spectrum disorder associated with a more male-typical brain?. Autism Research, 14 (8), 1597-1608. doi: 10.1002/aur.2537
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Brendan Zietsch is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Predictors of perceived versus actual sexual interest
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Sewell
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: An Ultimate Evolutionary Account of Male Same-Sex Attraction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Smerdon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Applying advanced statistical and computational methods to attractiveness research
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Bulmer
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary Psychology and Mate Choice: Advanced Methodological Approaches
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Sewell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Norm Maintenance Behaviour: Strong Reciprocity as a Maintenance Mechanism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Smerdon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Applying Advanced Statistical and Computational Methods to Attractiveness Research
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Bulmer
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of Intergroup Violence on the Evolution of Human Psychology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Suddendorf
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Evolution of Beneficial Misperceptions of Objective Reality Within Social Environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jonathan Redshaw
-
Doctor Philosophy
Applying Advanced Statistical and Computational Methods to Attractiveness Research
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Bulmer
Completed supervision
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Resolving Theoretical Issues in Evolutionary Psychology using Advanced Statistical Techniques
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Sex Differences in the Brain and their Link with Behaviour and Gender-Biased Disorders
Principal Advisor
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Testing evolutionary hypotheses regarding individual differences in human mating strategy
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Sexual selection and the role of variation in women¿s mate preference for masculine traits.
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
An investigation of sexting across the course of relationships: From dating, to couple relationships, to revenge porn
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
A social and evolutionary psychological approach to understanding human mate rejection and aggression
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Brendan Zietsch directly for media enquiries about:
- disgust sensitivity
- female orgasm
- mate choice
- mate preferences
- Personality
- sexual dimorphism
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