Dr. A. (Annemie) Ploeger
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Programme group Developmental Psychology
Area of expertise: Evolutionary psychology, Interaction between evolution and development (evo-devo), Evolutionary psychiatry, Evolution of mental disorders, Evolutionary mismatch hypothesis
Visiting address
- Nieuwe Achtergracht 129
- Room number: 1.10
Postal address
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Postbus 15916
1001 NK Amsterdam
Contact details
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Profile
I work as a Senior Lecturer at the programme group Developmental Psychology at the University of Amsterdam.
I am an evolutionary developmental psychologist. I teach for the Bachelor and Master of Psychology, the Bachelor of Psychobiology and the Master of Biological Sciences. I am the co-founder and coordinator of the minor Evolutionary Psychobiology and the master track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind.
My research provides an evolutionary perspective on mental disorders, with the focus on depression. The main topic I study is the mismatch hypothesis: the mismatch between our current modern environment and the one in which we evolved makes us vulnerable to diseases and disorders. I am the co-founder and board member of the Cognition, Behavior & Evolution Network (CBEN).
I have been elected in the Works Council of the Faculty representing De Amsterdamse Academie (DAA) in 2021. I am the co-founder and board member of DAA.
Research interests and expertise
- Evolutionary psychology
- Interaction between evolution and development (evo-devo)
- Evolutionary psychiatry
- Evolution of mental disorders
- Evolutionary mismatch hypothesis
Administrative role
- Coordinator of the minor Evolutionary Psychobiology
- Coordinator of the master track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind
Other links
Minor Evolutionary Psychobiology: https://www.uva.nl/en/programmes/minors/evolutionary-psychobiology/evolutionary-psychobiology.html
Master track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind: https://www.uva.nl/en/programmes/masters/biological-sciences-evolution-and-behaviour-and-mind/evolution-of-behaviour-and-mind.html
Cognition, Behavior & Evolution Network (CBEN): https://www.cognitionbehaviorevolution.nl/
De Amsterdamse Academie (DAA): http://www.deamsterdamseacademie.nl/
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Research
Research methods
- Questionnaire / survey design
- Literature reviews
Current research projects
The evolution of depression: Exploring the mismatch hypothesis using self-report measures
Research grant & honours
- 2019 Christiaan Hamaker Teaching Award
- 2019 Research funding by the Interdisciplinary Doctorate Agreement for the research project “The attractiveness of altruism: Partner choice and the evolution of cooperation”, together with dr. Martijn Egas (Biology) and prof. dr. Matthijs van Veelen (Economics)
Current cooperations
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Prof. dr. Mariska Kret (Leiden University)
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Prof. dr. Karline Janmaat (Biology, UvA and Leiden University)
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Prof. dr. Liesbeth Sterck (Utrecht University)
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Teaching
I am the co-founder and coordinator of the minor Evolutionary Psychobiology and the master track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind.
Courses I coordinate and teach:
- Developmental Psychology (Bachelor of Psychology)
- Evolutie en Gedrag (Bachelor of Psychobiology)
- Evolution of Human and Animal Intelligence (minor Evolutionary Psychobiology)
PhD Supervision
PhD student Dajo Boog on “The attractiveness of altruism: Partner choice and the evolution of cooperation”, together with dr. Martijn Egas (Biology) and prof. dr. Matthijs van Veelen (Economics)
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Publications
- refereed (27)
- academic (2)
- professional (5)
- popular scientific (4)
- recognitions (18)
- doctoral thesis (1)
2024
Boog, D. A., Egas, M., & Ploeger, A. (2024). Displaying Altruism as a Sexual Signal in Human Mate Choice is an Adaptation: An Interdisciplinary Overview of the Evidence. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 10(4), 397–415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-024-00415-1 [details]
2023
- van Heijst, K., Kret, M. E., & Ploeger, A. (2023). Basic Emotions or Constructed Emotions: Insights From Taking an Evolutionary Perspective. Perspectives on Psychological Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231205186
2022
- Hoogland, M., & Ploeger, A. (2022). Two Different Mismatches: Integrating the Developmental and the Evolutionary-Mismatch Hypothesis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(6), 1737-1745. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221078318 [details]
2021
- Koert, A., Ploeger, A., Bockting, C. L. H., Schmidt, M. V., Lucassen, P. J., Schrantee, A., & Mul, J. D. (2021). The social instability stress paradigm in rat and mouse: A systematic review of protocols, limitations, and recommendations. Neurobiology of Stress, 15, Article 100410. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100410 [details]
- Downloads
- 1-s2.0-S2352289521001181-main
- Supplementary files
- 1-s2.0-S2352289521001181-mmc1
- Downloads
- Nieuwburg, E. G. I., Ploeger, A., & Kret, M. E. (2021). Emotion recognition in nonhuman primates: How experimental research can contribute to a better understanding of underlying mechanisms. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 123, 24-47. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.029 [details]
- Ploeger, A. (2021). Nomological Networks of Evidence. In T. K. Shackelford, & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 5416–5419). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_947, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_947-1 [details]
- Ploeger, A. (2021). Special Case: Autism. In T. K. Shackelford, & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 7838–7840). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_2377, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2377-1 [details]
2020
- Jaasma, L., Kamm, I., Ploeger, A., & Kret, M. E. (2020). The exceptions that prove the rule? Spontaneous helping behaviour towards humans in some domestic dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 224, Article 104941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104941 [details]
2019
- Badcock, P. B., Friston, K. J., Ramstead, M. J. D., Ploeger, A., & Hohwy, J. (2019). The hierarchically mechanistic mind: an evolutionary systems theory of the human brain, cognition, and behavior. Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience, 19(6), 1319-1351. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-019-00721-3 [details]
2017
- van Rooijen, R., Ploeger, A., & Kret, M. E. (2017). The dot-probe task to measure emotional attention: A suitable measure in comparative studies? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 24(6), 1686-1717. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-016-1224-1 [details]
2016
- Ploeger, A. (2016). Nomological Networks of Evidence. In T. K. Shackelford, & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (Living ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_947-1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_947 [details]
- Ploeger, A. (2016). Special Case: Autism. In T. K. Shackelford, & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (Living ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2377-1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_2377 [details]
- Ploeger, A., & Galis, F. (2016). Evo-devo and cognitive science. In L. Nuno de la Rosa, & G. Müller (Eds.), Evolutionary developmental biology: A reference guide Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33038-9_44-1 [details]
2015
- Kret, M. E., & Ploeger, A. (2015). Emotion processing deficits: A liability spectrum providing insight into comorbidity of mental disorders. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 52, 153-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.02.011 [details]
- Ploeger, A., & van der Hoort, B. (2015). Evolutionary psychology as a metatheory for the social sciences: How to gather interdisciplinary evidence for a psychological adaptation. Review of General Psychology, 19(3), 381-392. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000052 [details]
2014
- Raijmakers, M. E. J., Kan, K. J., Ploeger, A., & van der Maas, H. L. J. (2014). Nonlinear epigenetic variance in developmental processes. In P. C. M. Molenaar, R. M. Lerner, & K. M. Newell (Eds.), Handbook of developmental systems theory and methodology (pp. 171-187). Guilford Press. http://www.tweelingenregister.org/nederlands/verslaggeving/NTR-publicaties_2013/Raijmakers_chapter7_2013.pdf [details]
2012
- Honing, H., & Ploeger, A. (2012). Cognition and the Evolution of Music: Pitfalls and Prospects. Topics in Cognitive Science, 4(4), 513-524. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-8765.2012.01210.x [details]
2011
- Penke, L., Borsboom, D., Johnson, W., Kievit, R. A., Ploeger, A., & Wicherts, J. M. (2011). Evolutionary psychology and intelligence research cannot be integrated the way Kanazawa (2010) suggested. The American Psychologist, 66(9), 916-917. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024626 [details]
- Ploeger, A., & Galis, F. (2011). Evo Devo and cognitive science. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science, 2(4), 429-440. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.137 [details]
- Ploeger, A., & Galis, F. (2011). Evolutionary approaches to autism: an overview and integration. McGill Journal of Medicine, 13(2), 38-43. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3277413/ [details]
2010
- Kan, K. J., Ploeger, A., Raijmakers, M. E. J., Dolan, C. V., & van der Maas, H. L. J. (2010). Nonlinear epigenetic variance: review and simulations. Developmental Science, 13(1), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00858.x [details]
- Ploeger, A. (2010). Evolutionary psychology as a metatheory for the social sciences. Integral review, 6(3), 164-174. https://integral-review.org/backissue/vol-6-no-3-jul-2010/ [details]
- Ploeger, A. (2010). Evolutionary psychology, developmental systems theory and advaita philosophy as metatheories: are the three compatible? Integral review, 6(3), 201-206. https://integral-review.org/backissue/vol-6-no-3-jul-2010/ [details]
- Ploeger, A., Raijmakers, M. E. J., van der Maas, H. L. J., & Galis, F. (2010). The association between autism and errors in early embryogenesis: what is the causal mechanism? Biological Psychiatry, 67(7), 602-607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.10.010 [details]
2009
- Ploeger, A., van der Maas, H. L. J., Raijmakers, M. E. J., & Galis, F. (2009). Why did the savant syndrome not spread in the population? A psychiatric example of a developmental constraint. Psychiatry Research, 166(1), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2007.11.010 [details]
2008
- Ploeger, A., van der Maas, H. L. J., & Raijmakers, M. E. J. (2008). Is evolutionary psychology a metatheory for psychology? A discussion of four major issues in psychology from an evolutionary developmental perspective. Psychological Inquiry, 19(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400701774006 [details]
- Wagemans, J., De Winter, J., Op de Beeck, H., Ploeger, A., Beckers, T., & Vanroose, P. (2008). Identification of everyday objects on the basis of silhouette and outline versions. Perception, 37(2), 207-244. https://doi.org/10.1068/p5825 [details]
2016
- Badcock, P. B., Ploeger, A., & Allen, N. B. (2016). After phrenology: Time for a paradigm shift in cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 39, Article e121. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X15001557 [details]
2008
- Ploeger, A., van der Maas, H. L. J., & Raijmakers, M. E. J. (2008). Is evolutionary developmental biology a viable approach to the study of the human mind? Reply. Psychological Inquiry, 19(1), 41-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400701774147 [details]
2022
- Ploeger, A. (2022). De vroege embryonale ontwikkeling en het microbioom bij autisme. Wetenschappelijk Tijdschrift Autisme, 21(1), 13-22. https://www.autismekennisbank.nl/p/de-vroege-embryonale-ontwikkeling-en-het-microbioom-bij-autisme/7088 [details]
2020
- Ploeger, A. (2020). Natuurlijke selectie heeft autisme niet uitgeselecteerd. Wetenschappelijk Tijdschrift Autisme, 19(4), 32-45. https://www.autismekennisbank.nl/p/natuurlijke-selectie-heeft-autisme-niet-uitgeselecteerd/5665 [details]
2017
- Ploeger, A. (2017). De ontwikkeling van het babybrein. Bijblijven, 33(3), 188–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12414-017-0222-1 [details]
- van der Linden, M., Bosch, S., Francken, J., van Gaal, S., Manneke, A., Oosterwijk, S., & Ploeger, A. (2017). Hersenwerk: Neurowetenschappen in de 21ste eeuw. Amsterdam: Boom. [details]
2009
- Ploeger, A. (2009). Autisme en lichamelijke afwijkingen: een verklaring vanuit de evolutionaire ontwikkelingsbiologie. Neuropraxis, 13(2), 43-46. [details]
2018
- Ploeger, A. (2018). De evolutie van een kind: Hoe elke ontwikkelingsfase een functie heeft. . Uitgeverij Nieuwezijds.
2015
- Ploeger, A. (2015). "Smoelenboek". De Volkskrant.
- Ploeger, A. (2015). Ideeën die de wereld veranderen: We hebben onze evolutie zelf in de hand. New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.nl/weekend/ideeen-die-de-wereld-veranderen-we-hebben-onze-evolutie-zelf-in-de-hand/
2010
- Ploeger, A. (2010). De evolutie van algemene intelligentie: Een paradox ontrafeld. BLIND : Interdisciplinair Tijdschrift, 24. https://www.ziedaar.nl/article.php?id=376 [details]
Prize / grant
- Ploeger, A. (2015). Congressubsidiefonds of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen € 3000,-.
- Ploeger, A. (2015). ABC Vip Grant - Visiting professor or funding for a seminar, workshop or presentation (max. € 7.500 per proposal)..
Membership / relevant position
- Ploeger, A. (2018). Board member, Cognition, Behavior and Evolution Network in the Low Countries. http://www.cognitionbehaviorevolution.nl/
- Ploeger, A. (2018). Board member Medezeggenschapsvereniging UvA, De Amsterdamse Academie. http://www.deamsterdamseacademie.nl/
- Ploeger, A. (2010). Organisation of the symposium Evolution of Developmental Systems for the Human Behavior & Evolution Society (HBES), University of Oregon, USA.
- Ploeger, A. (2010). Collaboration with Honing, H. The evolution of music: pitfalls and prospects., Cognitive Science Center, University of Amsterdam..
- Ploeger, A. (2010). Collaboration with Galis, F. The association between disturbances during early embryogenesis and developmental disorders., VU Medical Center, Amsterdam.
Media appearance
- Ploeger, A. (05-07-2024). Evolution of Depression. Radio interview Talkthatscience. https://talkthatscience.com/The-Evolution-Of-Depression
- Ploeger, A. (24-04-2024). Voor Nieuwsbrief / website FMG. YouTube movie clip for website FMG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC3QR3heCNg
- Ploeger, A. (05-05-2018). Interview in Volkskrant. Interview in Volkskrant. https://www.volkskrant.nl/wetenschap/deze-psycholoog-verklaart-het-gedrag-van-kinderen-vanuit-de-evolutie-~b141e398/
- Ploeger, A. (01-10-2016). In je eentje. Interview in Flow.
- Ploeger, A. (27-07-2016). Lof der Luiheid Viva. Interview in Viva.
Journal editor
- Ploeger, A. (editor) (2018). Review of General Psychology (Journal).
Others
- Ploeger, A. (participant) (9-7-2018). ABC workshop: The evolution of emotions (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
- Sauter, D. A. (participant) & Ploeger, A. (participant) (9-7-2018). ABC workshop: The evolution of emotions. Organiser (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
- Ploeger, A. (participant) (4-7-2018 - 8-7-2018). HBES 2018. Organisation of the 30th Annual conference of the Human Behavior & Evolution Society, Amsterdam, July 4 – 8, 2018 (organising a conference, workshop, ...). https://www.hbes.com/portfolio-item/30th-annual-hbes-conference/
- Ploeger, A. (organiser) (16-4-2015 - 17-4-2015). Conference organization with Mariska Kret: Evolutionary Psychology & Primatology in the Low Countries, Amsterdam (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
- Kret, M. E. (organiser) & Ploeger, A. (organiser) (2014). Evolutionary Psychology & Primatology (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
2008
- Ploeger, A. (2008). Towards an integration of evolutionary psychology and developmental science : new insights from evolutionary developmental biology. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]
- Downloads
- Thesis
- Title page
- Acknowledgments
- Contents
- Chapter 1: General introduction
- Chapter 2: Is evolutionary psychology a metatheory for psychology? A discussion of four major issues in psychology from an evolutionary developmental perspective
- Chapter 3: Why did the savant syndrome not spread in the population? A psychiatric example of a developmental constraint
- Chapter 4: The origins of schizophrenia : a view from evolutionary developmental biology
- Chapter 5: The association between autism and errors in early embryogenesis : what is the causal mechanism?
- Chapter 6: Summary and discussion
- Chapter 7: Dutch summary
- References
- Publication list
- Downloads
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Ancillary activities
- No ancillary activities
Boog, D. A., Egas, M., & Ploeger, A. (2024). Displaying Altruism as a Sexual Signal in Human Mate Choice is an Adaptation: An Interdisciplinary Overview of the Evidence. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 10(4), 397–415.