Keelah Williams
Associate Professor of Psychology; Director Jurisprudence, Law and Justice Studies
Keelah Williams is an evolutionary psychologist whose current research focuses on two areas: friendship and legal decision-making. She has a doctorate in psychology as well as a law degree, and her work has been published in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Williams received her doctorate from Arizona State University and her juris doctor from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. During her time in law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Arizona State Law Journal. Williams has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan at Dearborn.
A dual citizen of the United States and Australia, Williams has had a lifelong passion for travel.
Recent Courses Taught
Introductory Psychology
Law and Human Behavior
Select Publications
- Williams, K.E.G., Krems, J.A., Ayers, J.D., & Rankin, A.M. (2022). Sex differences in friendship preferences. Evolution and Human Behavior, 43(1), 44-52.
- Krems, J.A., Williams, K.E.G., Aktipis, A., & Kenrick, D.T. (2020). Friendship jealousy: One overlooked tool for maintaining friendships in the face of third-party threats? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000311
- Williams, K.E.G., Votruba, A.M., Neuberg, S.L., & Saks, M.J. (2019). Capital and punishment: Resource scarcity increases endorsement of the death penalty. Evolution and Human Behavior, 40(1), 65-73.
- Williams, K.E.G., & Hinshaw, A. (2018). Outbursts: An evolutionary approach to emotions in the mediation context. Negotiation Journal, 34(2), 165-186.
- Williams, K.E.G., Sng, O., & Neuberg, S.L. (2016). Ecology-driven stereotypes override race stereotypes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(2), 310-315.
- Williams, K.E.G., Krems, J.A., Ayers, J.D., & Rankin, A.M. (2022). Sex differences in friendship preferences. Evolution and Human Behavior, 43(1), 44-52.
- Krems, J.A., Williams, K.E.G., Aktipis, A., & Kenrick, D.T. (2020). Friendship jealousy: One overlooked tool for maintaining friendships in the face of third-party threats? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000311
- Williams, K.E.G., Votruba, A.M., Neuberg, S.L., & Saks, M.J. (2019). Capital and punishment: Resource scarcity increases endorsement of the death penalty. Evolution and Human Behavior, 40(1), 65-73.
- Williams, K.E.G., & Hinshaw, A. (2018). Outbursts: An evolutionary approach to emotions in the mediation context. Negotiation Journal, 34(2), 165-186.
- Williams, K.E.G., Sng, O., & Neuberg, S.L. (2016). Ecology-driven stereotypes override race stereotypes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(2), 310-315.
Professional Affiliations
Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
Society for Evolutionary Analysis in Law
American Psychology-Law Society
Appointed to the Faculty
2017Educational Background
Ph.D., Arizona State University
J.D., Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
M.A., Arizona State University
B.A., University of Michigan-Dearborn
