Welcome to the Social and Evolutionary Psychology Lab (SEPL) at West Texas A&M University! Directed by Dr. Alicia Macchione in the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work, our lab bridges social psychology—studying how others influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors—and evolutionary psychology, which views the mind as a product of biological evolution. We explore the adaptive origins of human social behavior, examining why and how people form groups, care for loved ones, avoid threats, attract mates, and balance competing motivations.