Andreas Héjj

Psychologist, Evolutionary Psychologist, University Professor
Born: April 12, 1956, Zirc, Hungary

Academic and Professional Career

2006–2022 – Head of Department and Full Professor, University of Pécs (Hungary)
Since 2008 – Member of the Doctoral Council, Doctoral School of Education and Society, University of Pécs
Until 2017 – Elected member of the University Senate (two terms)

Scientific evaluation by the Hungarian National Doctoral Council
(publications, citation impact, successful PhD supervision).
Member of the Pedagogical Scientific Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

His teaching excellence has been repeatedly recognized by students,
including the Golden Chair Award (2016).

University Appointments and Visiting Professorships

Since 1984 – Lecturer, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Munich, Faculty of Psychology and Education
1999 – Appointed Associate (Extraordinary) Professor, LMU Munich
Since 2020 – Lecturer and Chair of Final Examination Committees, Ludovika University of Public Service (Budapest)
Since 2018 – Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs (Border Areas of Anatomy)
2017 – Appointed Professor, University of Nicosia
2011 – Erasmus Visiting Professor, University of Klagenfurt
2010 – Erasmus Visiting Professor, Kaunas University
2008 – Erasmus Visiting Professor, Catholic University of Leuven
2001–2005 – Contract Professor, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Developmental Psychology and Methodology)
2000–2001 – Acting Head of Department, University of Hildesheim
1999–2000 – Visiting Lecturer in Media Pedagogy, University of Innsbruck
1996–1997 – Acting Head of Department, Freiburg University of Education
1995–1996 – Visiting Lecturer in Evolutionary Psychology, University of Zurich
1989–1995 – Lecturer and Examiner in Social Psychology and Counseling, Bavarian State College of Public Administration, Munich

Education and Qualifications

1993 – Dr. phil. habil., venia legendi, LMU Munich
(Habilitation thesis: The Challenges of Emerging Adulthood)
1988 – Dr. phil. (with distinction), Dissertation on multidimensional representations of attitudes
1984–1988 – Doctoral studies, LMU Munich (Psychology; minors: Psychopathology, English Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics)
1984 – Diploma in Psychology (Diplom-Psychologe), with distinction
1979–1984 – Student of Psychology, LMU Munich; Scholar of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
1978 – Youth care internship, United States (Readfield, Maine)
1976–1977 – Hungarian and English studies, University of Szeged
1975 – Secondary school graduation with honors, Fazekas Mihály High School, Budapest

International Research Projects

Since 2008 – Empirical research on perceived causes of tensions between Hungarians and Roma communities
2001–2003 – Comparative research on state and Waldorf schools (South Tyrol); development of a student Assessment Centre
1998 – Research on male initiation rites in traditional societies (Papua New Guinea, Micronesia)
1994–1996 – Interdisciplinary research on the evolutionary psychology of human olfactory communication
1992 – Cultural identity research in Kenya
1990 – Longitudinal study on political cognition in the former East Germany
1986–1987 – Research on subjective representations of Europe across cultures

Research Interests and Other Activities

Professor Héjj is an evolutionary psychologist whose work focuses on how
evolutionary adaptations that ensured the survival of our ancestors
continue to shape modern human behavior and preferences.
He has conducted cross-cultural research on beauty, attraction,
relationships, initiation rites, and respect for elders
in regions including Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, and Ecuador.

He is a founding member of the international scientific society
“Human Behavior in the Mirror of Evolution”
(Kassel, 2000).

Language Skills

Native Hungarian speaker.
Due to English-language schooling and over three decades of professional work in Germany,
he speaks and writes English and German at near-native level.
He obtained an advanced Spanish language certificate in 1996.