Marc Wilson
Psychology writer
Marc Wilson is a Professor in the School of Psychology at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
Marc Wilson describes himself as "intellectually indigenous" to Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, as he went there straight from secondary school to study, and has never left. His day job is as a Professor in the School of Psychology at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. His research on self-injury has been supported by grants from the Masden Fund and Health Research Council of New Zealand. He's written, and co-written with his colleagues and students, more than 100 papers in academic journals. In his time at VUW, he's won local and national awards for teaching excellence and science communication (including the New Zealand Association of Scientists Science Communicator Award). Marc has written the weekly psychology-themed column for the NZ Listener since mid-2012, which is an awful lot of columns.
Check out Marc’s latest content
Is growing a beard a symbol of strength or insecurity?
Beards are more than just facial hair - they're highly gendered symbols.
Tattoos, horror films and extreme sports: Why we seek out pain
The strange psychology of self-harm and why some of us choose pain to cope with life.
The nose knows: Tasting whisky like a pro - does it pass the sniff test?
From whisky appreciation to filtering pollutants, our nostrils know best.
Why the US elections wouldn’t be close at all, if it were up to Kiwis
If Kiwis were voting, the result would be a landslide victory to one candidate.
What hurts more: Emotional or sexual infidelity?
People tend to feel more confident about identifying sexual infidelity than emotional.
How Donald Trump’s claims about pets echo old urban myths
Urban myths tend to reflect different types of moral panics.
Hormones and moods: How men and women experience the emotional roller coaster
The ebb and flow of hormones affect high and lows in men as well as women.
Hangry? Why eating breakfast could make you happier
People who don't eat first thing in the morning report less life satisfaction.
Are Kiwis ready to mark our national day with flag-waving enthusiasm?
There’s still just enough No 8 wire mentality to make a parade feel a little ostentatious.
Why being ‘happiness averse’ feeds into a cycle of self-loathing
Happiness-averse folks are more depressed, anxious, and less optimistic.
New research proves we need more hugs - and even one from a robot will do
Hugs are more powerful than we think.
Psych: Communication was key when explaining the pros and cons of a Covid vaccine
The chance of a clot was 1 in 200,000, while your chance of a Lotto win is 1 in 380,000.
Marc Wilson: Even if people adore you, can there be too much of a good thing?
Familiarity can breed contempt when you see people too often.
Psych: How we think is at the forefront of determining our intelligence
These days, we have a more varied appreciation of what “intelligence” is.
Will we see increased funding for clinical psychology training post-election?
Marc Wilson looks at the strengths and weaknesses of parties’ mental health policies.
Marc Wilson: Tattoos are more than a form of self-expression
Tattoo owners are indistinguishable from the un-inked in general mental health.
Marc Wilson: The ancient political psychology question
When we tick the boxes on the ballot paper, are we voting for or against something?
Psychopaths drawn to one industry more than others
What psychopaths and commerce students have in common.
Marc Wilson: Why standing on one leg is an important marker of brain health
Vestibular vertigo can strike anyone, but is more common as we age.
How to spot the hallmarks of a healthcare serial killer
Hallmarks of a serial killer may be there but you have to know what you’re looking for.
What a handshake can reveal about a person
Professor of Psychology Marc Wilson explains the hidden messages behind handshakes.
Does the rise of scams make New Zealand a less trusting country?
It’s hard to know what the impact of perceptions of increasing dishonesty is right now.
Why older people should have their hearing checked
Are you over 60? Statistically, there’s a two-in-three chance you have some hearing loss.
How trans rights hate campaigns can become a gateway to other ideologies
These online hate campaigns seem aimed at ensnaring people in a deeper web of attitudes.
60s researchers going against sex stereotypes
Sex stereotypes were common in the 1960s until two researchers went against the grain.
Why we turn to fatty foods during stress
If you are someone who reaches for a stress snack, that response is valid. Here's why.
How to boost your memory with lists
Understanding how our brains remember items on a list can be harnessed to boost memory.
Why feeling threatened isn’t good for your heart
If you have lower heart rate variability, your chance of survival is lower, expert says.