Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research focuses on population and health issues, incorporating theories and methods from human behavioural ecology and anthropology. Based on long-term fieldwork in South-Central Ethiopia I study recent changes in reproductive and parenting decision-making among Arsi Oromo agropastoralists. I also work on the social dynamics of normative practices which are harmful to women and girls. In particular, I am interested in identifying the individual and community factors which explain the persistence of female genital cutting/mutilation and intimate partner violence in high-risk communities.
I welcome research proposals, in particular within Human Behavioural Ecology, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Applied Anthropology.
Recently supervised student topics include:
- Testing evolutionary explanations for “harmful cultural traditions”
- Developing specialized survey techniques for measuring sensitive behaviour
- Socio-ecology of infectious disease in Uganda
- Human behavioural ecology of labour migration in Ethiopia
- Infant feeding practices in Somali-born women in Bristol
Structured keywords and research groupings
- International Development
- Cabot Institute Water Research
- Cabot Institute Food Security Research
- Cabot Institute Environmental Change Research
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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BA Heritage Dignity and Violence GCRF
Gibson, M. A., Gurmu, E. & Alvergne, A.
18/11/19 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
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Scoping study for a survey of FGC/M-prevalence in the UK
Karlsen, S. I., Carver, N., Pantazis, C., Gibson, M. A., Van Bavel, H. & Gangoli, G.
2/05/22 → 31/07/22
Project: Research
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Measuring harmful cultural practices using randomized response techniques
Gurmu, E., Scott, I. & Gibson, M. A.
1/12/15 → 30/11/17
Project: Research
Research output
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Abandoning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) is an emerging but costly parental investment strategy in rural Ethiopia
Gibson, M. A., Gurmu, E., Chua, R. V., Van Bavel, H. & Myers, S., 25 Sept 2023, In: Social Science and Medicine. 335, 10 p., 116170.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access -
Testing evolutionary conflict theories for sexual and physical intimate partner violence in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Howard, J. A. D. & Gibson, M. A., 19 Dec 2023, In: Evolutionary Human Sciences. 5, E6, e6.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Measuring Hidden Support for Physical Intimate Partner Violence: A List Randomization Experiment in South-Central Ethiopia
Gibson, M. A., Gurmu, E., Cobo Rodriguez, B., Rueda, M. D. M. & Scott, I. M. L., 4 Apr 2022, In: Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 37, 7-8, p. NP4238–NP4257 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Citations (Scopus)129 Downloads (Pure)
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Evolutionary Psychology (Journal)
Mhairi A Gibson (Editor)
2019Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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University of Cambridge Biological Anthropology
Mhairi A Gibson (Examiner)
2018 → 2021Activity: Examination types › External Examination and Supervision