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
2012
Journal Article
No association of candidate genes with cannabis use in a large sample of Australian twin families
Verweij, Karin J. H., Zietsch, Brendan P., Liu, Jimmy Z., Medland, Sarah E., Lynskey, Michael T., Madden, Pamela A. F., Agrawal, Arpana, Montgomery, Grant W., Heath, Andrew C. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2012). No association of candidate genes with cannabis use in a large sample of Australian twin families. Addiction Biology, 17 (3), 687-690. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00320.x
2012
Journal Article
Do shared etiological factors contribute to the relationship between sexual orientation and depression?
Zietsch, B. P., Verweij, K. J. H., Heath, A. C., Madden, P. A. F., Martin, N. G., Nelson, E. C. and Lynskey, M. T. (2012). Do shared etiological factors contribute to the relationship between sexual orientation and depression?. Psychological Medicine, 42 (3), 521-532. doi: 10.1017/S0033291711001577
2012
Book Chapter
Estimating heritability from twin studies
Verweij, Karin J. H., Mosing, Miriam A., Zietsch, Brendan P. and Medland, Sarah E. (2012). Estimating heritability from twin studies. Statistical human genetics: methods and protocols. (pp. 151-170) edited by Robert C. Elston, Jaya M. Satagopan and Shuying Sun. New York, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-555-8_9
2011
Journal Article
Experimental evidence that women's mate preferences are directly influenced by cues of pathogen prevalence and resource scarcity
Lee, Anthony J. and Zietsch, Brendan P. (2011). Experimental evidence that women's mate preferences are directly influenced by cues of pathogen prevalence and resource scarcity. Biology Letters, 7 (6), 892-895. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0454
2011
Journal Article
Genetic analysis of orgasmic function in twins and siblings does not support the by-product theory of female orgasm
Zietsch, Brendan P. and Santtila, Pekka (2011). Genetic analysis of orgasmic function in twins and siblings does not support the by-product theory of female orgasm. Animal Behaviour, 82 (5), 1097-1101. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.08.002
2011
Conference Publication
The genetic etiology of cannabis use
Verweij, Karin, Medland, Sarah, Lynskey, Michael, Zietsch, Brendan, Heath, Andrew, Boomsma, Dorret and Martin, Nicholas G. (2011). The genetic etiology of cannabis use. 41st Annual Meeting of the Behaviour-Genetics-Association, Newport Ri, Jun 06-09, 2011. NEW YORK: SPRINGER.
2011
Journal Article
Female orgasm rates are largely independent of other traits: Implications for "female orgasmic disorder" and evolutionary theories of orgasm
Zietsch, Brendan P., Miller, Geoffrey F., Bailey, J. Michael and Martin, Nicholas G. (2011). Female orgasm rates are largely independent of other traits: Implications for "female orgasmic disorder" and evolutionary theories of orgasm. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8 (8), 2305-2316. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02300.x
2011
Journal Article
Variation in human mate choice: Simultaneously investigating heritability, parental influence, sexual imprinting, and assortative mating
Zietsch, Brendan P., Verweij, Karin J. H., Heath, Andrew C. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2011). Variation in human mate choice: Simultaneously investigating heritability, parental influence, sexual imprinting, and assortative mating. The American Naturalist, 177 (5), 605-616. doi: 10.1086/659629
2011
Journal Article
Predicting sensation seeking from dopamine genes: Use and misuse of genetic prediction
Powell, Joseph E. and Zietsch, Brendan P (2011). Predicting sensation seeking from dopamine genes: Use and misuse of genetic prediction. Psychological Science, 22 (3), 413-415. doi: 10.1177/0956797610397669
2011
Journal Article
Sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability: A twin study of neuroticism and psychoticism
Zietsch, Brendan P., Verweij, Karin J. H., Bailey, J. Michael, Wright, Margaret J. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2011). Sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability: A twin study of neuroticism and psychoticism. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40 (1), 133-142. doi: 10.1007/s10508-009-9508-4
2011
Book Chapter
Explanations for elevated psychiatric vulnerability in nonheterosexuals: Environmental stressors, genetics, and the HPA and HPG axes
Zietsch, Brendan P. (2011). Explanations for elevated psychiatric vulnerability in nonheterosexuals: Environmental stressors, genetics, and the HPA and HPG axes. Psychiatric Disorders: Worldwide Advances. (pp. 277-300) edited by Toru Uehara. Rijeka, Croatia: Intech Open Access.
2010
Journal Article
A genome-wide association study of Cloninger’s temperament scales: Implications for the evolutionary genetics of personality
Verweij, Kjh, Zietsch, BP, Medland, SE, Gordon, SD, Benyamin, B, Nyholt, DR, McEvoy, BP, Sullivan, PF, Heath, AC, Madden, PAF, Henders, AK, Montgomery, GW, Martin, NG and Wray, NR (2010). A genome-wide association study of Cloninger’s temperament scales: Implications for the evolutionary genetics of personality. Biological Psychology, 85 (2), 306-317. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.07.018
2010
Journal Article
Genetic and environmental influences on cannabis use initiation and problematic use: A meta-analysis of twin studies
Verweij, Karin J. H., Zietsch, Brendan P., Lynskey, Michael T., Medland, Sarah E., Neale, Michael C., Martin, Nicholas G., Boomsma, Dorret I. and Vink, Jacqueline M. (2010). Genetic and environmental influences on cannabis use initiation and problematic use: A meta-analysis of twin studies. Addiction, 105 (3), 417-430. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02831.x
2010
Conference Publication
Examining the relationship between sexual orientation and depression: overlapping genetic and early environmental influences
Verweij, Kjh, Zietsch, BP, Lynskey, MT, Heath, AC and Martin, NG (2010). Examining the relationship between sexual orientation and depression: overlapping genetic and early environmental influences. 40th Annual Meeting of Behavior-Genetics-Association, Pennsylvania PA, MAY, 2009.
2010
Journal Article
Genetic and environmental influences on risky sexual behaviour and its relationship with personality
Zietsch, B. P., Verweij, K. J. H., Bailey, J. M., Wright, M. J. and Martin, N. G. (2010). Genetic and environmental influences on risky sexual behaviour and its relationship with personality. Behavior Genetics, 40 (1), 12-21. doi: 10.1007/s10519-009-9300-1
2010
Conference Publication
Psychiatric vulnerability in nonheterosexuals
Zietsch, B. P., Verweij, K. J. H., Bailey, J. M., Wright, M. J. and Martin, N. G. (2010). Psychiatric vulnerability in nonheterosexuals. The 40th Annual Behavior Genetics Association meeting, Seoul, Korea, 2-5 June 2010. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Springer New York. doi: 10.1007/s10519-010-9392-7
2009
Conference Publication
Investigating the association between sexual orientation and mental health via endophenotypes neuroticism and psychoticism: A twin study
Zietsch, Brendan P., Verweij, Karin J. H., Bailey, J. Michael, Wright, Margaret J. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2009). Investigating the association between sexual orientation and mental health via endophenotypes neuroticism and psychoticism: A twin study. 39th Annual Meeting of the Behavior-Genetics-Association, Mineapolis Mn, Jun 17-20, 2009. NEW YORK: SPRINGER.
2009
Journal Article
Genetic and environmental influences on optimism and its relationship to mental and self-rated health: A study of aging twins
Mosing, Miriam A., Zietsch, Brendan P., Shekar, Sri N., Wright, Margaret J. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2009). Genetic and environmental influences on optimism and its relationship to mental and self-rated health: A study of aging twins. Behavior Genetics, 39 (6), 597-604. doi: 10.1007/s10519-009-9287-7
2009
Conference Publication
Shared etiology of risky sexual behaviour and adolescent misconduct: Genetic and environmental influences
Verweij, K. J. H., Zietsch, B. P., Bailey, J. M. and Martin, N. G. (2009). Shared etiology of risky sexual behaviour and adolescent misconduct: Genetic and environmental influences. 39th Annual Meeting of the Behavior-Genetics-Association, Mineapolis Mn, Jun 17-20, 2009. NEW YORK: SPRINGER.
2009
Other Outputs
The genetic etiology of human sexuality
Brendan Zietsch (2009). The genetic etiology of human sexuality. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.
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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