Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology (CCEP) is a multidisciplinary team of psychologists (developmental, cognitive, social and biological) and behavioural biologists.
Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology is the scientific study of the origins of mind and behaviour, and our work explores the evolutionary processes underpinning human behaviour and the comparison of humans with other animals. We have particular expertise in comparative social and spatial cognition, emotion, communication and facial expression.
Within the Centre we are exploring the origins of mind and behaviour through the consideration of evolutionary processes and the comparison of humans with other animals. We're interested in how social structures are formed and how we can apply evolutionary thinking to understand today's problems.
And through a deeper understanding of the minds and behaviours of animals, we're exploring how humans have evolved – from how social structures are formed, to the ways in which evolutionary thinking can help solve the problems of today.
Our research covers the following topics:
- Human evolutionary psychology
- Primate cognition
- Human-animal interaction, conservation and welfare
- Domestication and cognition
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
-
Marc Baker
- Faculty of Science & Health, School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences - Teaching Fellow
- Centre for Comparative & Evolutionary Psychology
Person: Academic, Affiliate
-
-
Chimpanzees spontaneously prepare for mutually exclusive possibilities, and collective context strengthens this behaviour
Warren, E., Pilgrim, C., Aellen, M., Morford, J., Herrmann, E., Mann, R. P., Biro, D. & Krupenye, C., 16 Apr 2026, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 381, 14 p., 20240444.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Do dogs know what humans know? A study into pet dogs’ (Canis familiaris) ability to attribute knowledge to an unfamiliar person
Noordenbos, J., Beerda, B., Layzell, H. & Kaminski, J., 13 Jan 2026, In: Animal Cognition. 29, 10.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
Effects of age and forest enclosure on sun bear rehabilitation assessed through keeper ratings
Saunders, L. A., Chong, E. Q. E., Tuuga, A., Gheorghiu, A. I., Proops, L., Wong, S. T. & Davila-Ross, M., 10 Jan 2026, In: Scientific Reports. 16, 1, 14 p., 4990.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Student theses
-
Social Cognitive Skills in Domestic Dogs: Visual Perspective Taking
West-Brownbill, A. E. (Author), Kaminski, J. (Supervisor), Herrmann, E. (Supervisor) & Proops, L. (Supervisor), 18 Sept 2025Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
File -
Understanding the Role of Environmental and Human Factors in Working Equid Welfare
Haddy, E. C. (Author), Proops, L. C. (Supervisor), Brown, J. C. (Supervisor) & Kaminski, J. (Supervisor), 27 Sept 2022Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
File -
Individual differences in the social network sizes of older adults
Rollings, J. (Author), Van Laar, D. (Supervisor) & Waller, B. M. (Supervisor), Mar 2022Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
File
Datasets
-
Dataset: 'Working Equid Welfare Mexico Data'
Haddy, E. (Creator), Burden, F. (Contributor), Prado-Ortiz, O. (Contributor), Zappi, H. (Contributor), Raw, Z. (Contributor) & Proops, L. (Contributor), University of Portsmouth, 25 Oct 2019
DOI: 10.17029/86cb3171-f0c7-45b7-bb39-4958a6663e40
Dataset
File -
Dataset for 'Belief in Animal Sentience and Affective Owner Attitudes are linked to Positive Working Equid Welfare across Six Countries. '
Haddy, E. C. (Creator) & Proops, L. (Creator), University of Portsmouth, 6 Jul 2023
DOI: 10.17029/2d0c1082-e106-4d69-b85e-9422d315462b
Dataset
File -
Supporting information for 'Misunderstandings and omissions in textbook accounts of effect sizes'.
Morris, P. (Creator), Wiley Online Library, 4 Jun 2019
DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12401
Dataset
File
-
Safer tourism in elephant observation
Bates, L. (Research Leader), Klopfenstien, M. (PI) & Kaminski, J. (Team Member)
1/03/26 → 31/01/31
Project: Research
-
Standoff Raman spectroscopy as a novel non-invasive technique to assess wildlife welfare
Romero, T. (PI)
1/10/25 → 30/04/27
Project: Research
-
An interdisciplinary approach to reducing plastic pollution: human perception, macaque interactions and arts-based awareness initiatives in South Sulawesi
Romero, T. (PI), Martins, V. (CoI), Proops, L. (Team Member) & Bowyer, C. (Team Member)
1/10/24 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
Activities
-
PhD candidate Eugenie Mortessagne (Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France)
Joly, M. (Examiner)
19 Dec 2025Activity: Examination and External Supervision types › Examination
-
Animove 2025
Joly, M. (Participant)
30 Nov 2025 → 13 Dec 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
-
Episode for the LifeSolved Podcast series: The secret social lives of primates: What chimps and monkeys reveal about human nature
Herrmann, E. (Speaker) & Joly, M. (Speaker)
27 Nov 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Prizes
-
2018 Ursula Gielen Global Psychology Book Award
Bard, K. (Recipient) & Keller, H. (Recipient), Aug 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Associate Fellow at British Psychological Society
Bard, K. (Recipient), 2000
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
-
Cozzarelli Prize
Proops, L. (Recipient), McComb, K. (Recipient) & Reby, D. (Recipient), 26 Apr 2009
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Press/Media
-
That's TV local - Interview with Abbie Carrington regarding the EU "Science is Wonderful!" fair and a scientist career path
28/03/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
-
Portsmouth The News: "Primate researchers engage with and inspire children at major EU science event"
24/03/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research cited
-