2026 Christopher von Rueden: Social Sciences and Humanities Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Social Sciences and Humanities	37	6198	5756	2965	2703	69	6876

Overview

Christopher von Rueden is affiliated with the University of Richmond in the United States. Their research spans several fields within the social sciences, particularly psychology, reflecting a focus on evolutionary, social, and cognitive dimensions of human behavior. The main fields of study associated with their work include Social Sciences and Psychology, with significant contributions to subfields such as Sociology and Political Science, Social Psychology, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, General Health Professions, and Cognitive Neuroscience.

The topics explored in their research encompass a range of areas related to evolutionary approaches and human behavior. Notable themes include Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation, Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior, Cultural Differences and Values, Health Disparities and Outcomes, Social and Intergroup Psychology, Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment, and Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior.

Among recent publications by Christopher von Rueden are the following:

From genes to minds to cultures: Evolutionary approaches to leadership (2020, The Leadership Quarterly)
Kinship intensity and the use of mental states in moral judgment across societies (2020, Evolution and Human Behavior)
Do wealth and inequality associate with health in a small-scale subsistence society? (2021, eLife)
Mother's social status is associated with child health in a horticulturalist population (2020, Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences)
Coalitions and conflict: A longitudinal analysis of men's politics (2021, Evolutionary Human Sciences)

Christopher von Rueden has collaborated extensively with several recurring co-authors, highlighting a network of research partnerships that supports a diverse approach to behavioral and social studies. Frequent collaborators include Michael Gurven, Paul L. Hooper, Hillard Kaplan, Jonathan Stieglitz, and Benjamin C. Trumble.

The scientist has a publication record in several notable academic venues. These include:

Evolution and Human Behavior
Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Human Nature
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
UNC Libraries

Christopher von Rueden has also contributed to scholarly books, with a notable publication titled Human Behavioral Ecology, published by Cambridge University Press in 2024.

Best Publications

Human adaptations for the visual assessment of strength and fighting ability from the body and face

Aaron Nathaniel Sell;Leda Cosmides;John Tooby;Daniel Sznycer

739
Citations
Intergenerational wealth transmission and the dynamics of inequality in small-scale societies.

Monique Borgerhoff Mulder;Samuel Bowles;Tom Hertz;Adrian Bell

636
Citations
How universal is the Big Five? Testing the five-factor model of personality variation among forager-farmers in the Bolivian Amazon.

Michael Gurven;Christopher von Rueden;Maxim Massenkoff;Hillard Kaplan

577
Citations
Small-scale societies exhibit fundamental variation in the role of intentions in moral judgment.

H Clark Barrett;Alexander H Bolyanatz;Alyssa N Crittenden;Daniel M. T. Fessler

448
Citations
Why do men seek status? Fitness payoffs to dominance and prestige

Christopher von Rueden;Michael Gurven;Hillard Kaplan

439
Citations
The multiple dimensions of male social status in an Amazonian society.

Christopher von Rueden;Michael Gurven;Hillard Kaplan

352
Citations
Adaptations in humans for assessing physical strength from the voice

Aaron Nathaniel Sell;Gregory A. Bryant;Leda Cosmides;John Tooby

333
Citations
Men's status and reproductive success in 33 nonindustrial societies: Effects of subsistence, marriage system, and reproductive strategy.

Christopher R. von Rueden;Adrian V. Jaeggi

276
Citations
Leadership solves collective action problems in small-scale societies.

Luke Glowacki;Christopher von Rueden

272
Citations
Leadership in an Egalitarian Society

Christopher von Rueden;Michael Gurven;Hillard Kaplan;Jonathan Stieglitz

215
Citations
Hunting, social status and biological fitness.

Michael Gurven;Christopher von Rueden

163
Citations
Leadership in small-scale societies: Some implications for theory, research, and practice

Christopher von Rueden;Mark van Vugt;Mark van Vugt

155
Citations
A Bioeconomic Approach to Marriage and the Sexual Division of Labor

Michael Gurven;Jeffrey Winking;Hillard Kaplan;Christopher von Rueden

143
Citations
Domestication alone does not lead to inequality : intergenerational wealth transmission among horticulturalists.

Michael Gurven;Monique Borgerhoff Mulder;Paul L. Hooper;Hillard Kaplan

116
Citations
Does market integration buffer risk, erode traditional sharing practices and increase inequality? A test among Bolivian forager-farmers

Michael Gurven;Adrian V. Jaeggi;Christopher von Rueden;Paul L. Hooper

114
Citations
Evolution of brain size and juvenile periods in primates.

Robert Walker;Oskar F. Burger;John Wagner;Christopher R. Von Rueden

111
Citations
The evolutionary anthropology of political leadership

Zachary H. Garfield;Christopher von Rueden;Edward H. Hagen

108
Citations
Physical competition increases testosterone among Amazonian forager-horticulturalists: a test of the ‘challenge hypothesis’

Benjamin C. Trumble;Daniel Cummings;Christopher von Rueden;Kathleen A. O'Connor

97
Citations
Niche diversity can explain cross-cultural differences in personality structure

Paul E. Smaldino;Aaron Lukaszewski;Christopher von Rueden;Michael Gurven

89
Citations
The Roots and Fruits of Social Status in Small-Scale Human Societies

Christopher von Rueden

87
Citations
The Evolutionary Fitness of Personality Traits in a Small-Scale Subsistence Society

Michael Gurven;Christopher von Rueden;Jonathan Stieglitz;Hillard Kaplan

83
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Michael Gurven University of California, Santa Barbara

Hillard Kaplan Chapman University

Rebecca Sear London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Monique Borgerhoff Mulder University of California, Davis

Eric Alden Smith University of Washington

Mark van Vugt Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Stephen Stich Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Daniel M. T. Fessler University of California, Los Angeles

Bobbi S. Low University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Frank W. Marlowe University of Cambridge

External Links

Personal website of Christopher von Rueden

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

The demand for flexible and affordable education in Social Sciences and Humanities is higher than ever. Students now have access to a range of online degrees designed to fit varying schedules and budgets. For those interested in psychology, there are masters in psychology online cheap options that balance quality with cost-effectiveness.

Rapid career advancement is possible for education professionals with 2 year ed d programs online, which offer fast-track pathways to doctoral credentials. Many universities also feature 1 year master's programs across diverse social science and humanities disciplines for students seeking to enter the workforce quickly or elevate their current roles.

For undergraduates, an accelerated online degree provides a practical route to finishing your studies faster without sacrificing educational quality. These online degree options open new doors, reduce costs, and prepare graduates for impactful careers in a rapidly changing world.