About Me

Keeley Mei-ling Meetze

My research focuses on understanding why people behave the way they do, how they make choices within their circumstances, and how their evolved mechanisms and mental models of the world guide their actions. My main research area is how resources affect female mating behavior from an evolutionary viewpoint. I am currently developing agent based models in R to study these relationships. By simulating different resource scenarios and observing their impact on mating choices, I aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving these behaviors. This method allows me to closely examine how individual strategies are influenced by both personal goals and external conditions.

Beyond individual behavior, I also study how cultures evolve. I firmly believe in the idea of a 'gene's-eye view of culture', which means genetic evolution determines our goals and desires and culture is just how we express them in specific social and physical environments. Understanding this interaction helps us gain deeper insights into how cultural contexts shape individual behavior and vice versa.

I study individuals within their cultural settings. Each person operates within a unique set of evolved motivations and goals, reflecting the agentic nature of our genes. This agency enables us to adapt, allowing us to adopt various strategies that work until they no longer do in our ever-changing environments. This adaptability is crucial for survival and success in complex settings.

I am fascinated by the interaction between different levels of systems—individuals within cultures, and cultures within ecosystems. Globalization adds another layer of complexity, requiring advanced models to understand these interactions. By viewing systems as models of each other, we can analyze phenomena at multiple levels, uncovering common underlying patterns. This multi-level analysis allows for a more detailed understanding of behavior and adaptation.

In my view, cultures are collections of individual systems, each level offering a distinct perspective for study and explanation. Systems evolve as models of their external environments to maintain their internal coherence. Thus, a well-constructed argument based on strong models can inherently address potential doubts.

My research aims to dissect these complex relationships, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of human behavior through the lens of agency, predictive modeling, and adaptive systems.

My other interests include concepts like the Bayesian brain and free energy, which help explain how we feel a sense of control over our actions. These models highlight how we predict and understand the world around us, which ties into my interest in perception and decision-making.

In my free time, I like to solo-travel and pretend I'm an influencer by making treat review videos for my friends. I also enjoy drinking cider and listening to female rap music or Taylor Swift.