Iliana Samara
Assistant Professor
Cognitive Psychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University
Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands
i.samara [at] fsw.leidenuniv.nl
ORCID
Google Scholar
OSF
Research Profile
My research models romantic judgment as a signal-detection problem, testing how projection and criterion shifts produce sexual overperception. Combining speed-dating designs with Bayesian multilevel models, I bridge evolutionary frameworks (Error Management Theory) with proximate mechanisms (arousal, self-rated attractiveness) and applied interventions for consent and harassment prevention. I lead citizen-science initiatives engaging adolescents and coordinate the PsychologieLab Op Wielen, working with preregistered designs, open data and code, and reproducible analysis pipelines.
Core contributions: signal-detection methods for romantic misperception; dyadic coordination and physiological synchrony in attraction; translational frameworks for consent education and organizational policy.
Education
PhD in Psychology2019–2024
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
Dissertation: How do we form romantic bonds? Investigating the effect of attraction on social cognition.
PhD Candidate (transferred)2017–2018
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NL
Research MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience (cum laude)2015–2017
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
MSc in Applied Cognitive Psychology2014–2015
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
BSc in Psychology2009–2014
University of Crete, Crete, Greece
Academic Positions
Assistant Professor, Cognitive Psychology Unit2024–present
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
Tenured Lecturer (Docent), Cognitive Psychology Unit (0.5 FTE)2021–present
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
Tenured Lecturer (Docent), Statistics & Methodology Unit2019–2026
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
Coordinator, PsychologieLab Op Wielen2020–present
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
Mobile lab for reproducible psychological research in secondary schools
Research Assistant2015–2019
Leiden University, Leiden, NL
Funding & Grants Total awarded: €190,520
NWA Wetenschapscommunicatiesubsidie, €140,7652024
Citizen-science project on adolescent romantic relationships
Leiden Gemeente Onderwijsinnovatiesubsidie, €31,7552024
Apprenticeship research programme with high-school students
APF Esther Katz Rosen Precollege Psychology Grant, €10,0002021
Research apprenticeship for high-performing high-school students
Social Resilience & Security Programme, €4,0002022
Study on aggressive behaviour in first dates (with LIACS)
Quest Magazine, €4,0002020
Large-scale study (N > 1,000) on romantic perception
Selected Publications
First-author articles
- Samara, I., Roth, T. S., & Kret, M. E. (2021). The role of emotion projection, sexual desire, and self-rated attractiveness in the sexual overperception bias. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(6), 2507–2516. doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02017-5
- Samara, I., Roth, T. S., Nikolić, M., Prochazkova, E., & Kret, M. E. (2023). Can third-party observers detect attraction in others based on subtle nonverbal cues? Current Psychology, 42(22), 18928–18942. doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02927-0
- Samara, I. (2026). Signal detection theory with multilevel models for dyadic judgments: a practical tutorial for psychological research. Methods in Psychology, 100258. doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2026.100258
- Samara, I. (2026). Estimating consent clarity requires sampling absence, refusal, and withdrawal. Archives of Sexual Behavior. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1007/s10508-026-03499-x
- Samara, I., Fiacchino, D., Roth, T. S., de Vries, E., Kret, M. E., & Nikolić, M. (under review). The subtle art of seduction: mimicry of coy smiles enhances interpersonal attraction.
- Samara, I.†, Roth, T. S.†, Tan, J., Prochazkova, E., & Kret, M. E. (2021). A comparative framework of inter-individual coordination and pair-bonding. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 39, 98–105. doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.03.005
† Shared first authorship.
Collaborative articles
- Roth, T. S., Massen, J. J. M., & Samara, I. (2026). Inconsistent use of evolutionary frameworks in accounts of romantic relationships. Behavioral and Brain Sciences. doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X25102331
- Roth, T. S., Samara, I., Perea-García, J. O., & Kret, M. E. (2024). No immediate attentional bias towards or choice bias for male secondary sexual characteristics in Bornean orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus). Scientific Reports, 14(1), 12095. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62187-9
- Roth, T. S., Samara, I., Perea-García, J. O., & Kret, M. E. (2023). Individual attractiveness preferences differentially modulate immediate and voluntary attention. Scientific Reports, 13, 2147. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29240-5
- Roth, T. S., Samara, I., & Kret, M. E. (2021). Multimodal mate choice: exploring the effects of sight, sound, and scent on partner choice in a speed-date paradigm. Evolution and Human Behavior, 42(5), 461–468. doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2021.04.004
- Roth, T. S., Du, X., Samara, I., & Kret, M. E. (2021). Attractiveness modulates attention, but does not enhance gaze cueing. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 16(4), 343–361. doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000265
- Roth, T. S., Samara, I., & Kret, M. E. (2021). Ultimate and proximate factors underlying sexual overperception bias: a reply to Lee et al. Evolution and Human Behavior, 42(1), 73–75. doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.06.002
Methods & Computational Skills
Statistical modeling. Signal detection theory (probit GLMMs, d′ and c estimation), Bayesian multilevel models (brms, Stan), drift-diffusion models (RWiener), frequentist GLMMs (lme4).
Programming. R (tidyverse, ggplot2, Quarto/RMarkdown), Python (PsychoPy, pandas, NumPy), SPSS.
Experimental methods. Speed-dating paradigms, eye-tracking (EyeLink, Tobii), physiological measurement and synchrony (ECG/heart rate, skin conductance/EDA, respiration), E-Prime, PsychoPy.
Open practices. Preregistration (OSF, AsPredicted), reproducible workflows (Quarto, R Markdown), open data and code sharing.
Teaching & Supervision
Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs (BKO)2025
University Teaching Qualification, Leiden University
Lecturer, Cognitive Psychology Unit2021–present
Courses: Cognitive Neuroscience · Consciousness
Invited Instructor, NEURONUS PhD Summer School on Emotion Research2020
Kraków, Poland (held online due to COVID-19)
Lecturer, Statistics & Methodology Unit2019–2025
Courses: Inferential Statistics · Experimental & Correlational Research · Multivariate Data Analysis · Psychometrics
Tutor, OpenSesame (Python) Programming Course2018
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NL
Talks & Presentations selected
Pint of Science, Leiden2026
Public science talk
CBEN, Leiden (poster)2026
Poster presentation
RISE Symposium, Researchers in Science for Equality2025
Talk
NVG (poster)2022
Poster presentation
Dies Natalis, Leiden University2022
Leiden University anniversary programme
Public Engagement & Media selected
De Volkskrant2025
Expert commentary on research about romantic relationships and aging
Het Parool2024
Interview on the sexual overperception bias and coy smiles
BNNVARA, Dickpics: De Keiharde Wetenschap2023
Documentary: mimicry and real-time coordination in early romantic interactions; implications for consent and misperception
Interactive demonstrations, Can the Body Betray a Lie?recurring
Live physiological-measurement demonstrations for school, professional, and academic audiences (British School of Leiden; organisational integrity day; LU law faculty event)
Languages
Greek: Native
English: Fluent (academic writing, teaching, presenting)
Dutch: B1 (conversational, professional contexts)