David Marks (psychologist)
Encyclopedia
David F. Marks is a psychologist
who is largely concerned with four areas of psychological research - health psychology
, cognitive psychology
, parapsychology
and IQ score variations. His late brother Jon Marks
was a jazz musician.
. In 1986 he returned to the UK as Head of the School of Psychology at Middlesex Polytechnic before working at City University
from 2000-10. He founded and edits the Journal of Health Psychology
(A more detailed biography is published in Who's Who).
Marks advocates a greater understanding of the socio-political context affecting individual behaviour (Marks et al., 2005). With Michael Murray and colleagues he has actively promoted a critical-theoretical approach, including the foundation of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology
. This organisation has included the consideration of social justice, community approaches, and arts projects for the reduction of health inequalities. Marks has also been interested in new research methods for clinical psychology
and health psychology
(Marks & Yardley, 2004).
Marks has promoted the use of cognitive behaviour therapy as an effective clinical approach to smoking cessation. This research began in New Zealand where Paul Sulzberger and he developed the Isis Smoking Cessation Programme (Sulzberger & Marks, 1977). After returning to England in 1986 Marks developed a UK-version of the programme which was originally published by the British Psychological Society
in 1993 as The QUIT FOR LIFE Programme (Marks 1993, 2005). The approach was developed further and re-published in the Overcoming series by Robinson as "Overcoming Your Smoking Habit
" (Marks 2005).
and mental imagery led to the development of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ)
, a tool for the assessment of individual differences in visual imagery. Marks (1973) reported that high vividness scores correlate with the accuracy of recall of coloured photographs. In 1995 he published a new version of the VVIQ, the VVIQ2. This questionnaire consists of twice the number of items and reverses the rating scale so that higher scores reflect higher vividness. Rodway, Gillies and Schepman (2006) found that high vividness participants were significantly more accurate at detecting salient changes to pictures compared to low vividness participants, replicating an earlier study by Gur and Hilgard (1975). Recently Cui et al. (2007) found that reported image vividness correlates with increased activity in the visual cortex. This study shows that the subjective experience of forming a mental image is reflected by increased visual cortical activity.
Marks co-founded the New Zealand Skeptics
in 1986. In his work on parapsychology
Marks adopts a sceptical analysis of paranormal
claims. For example, Marks said that the original claims of remote viewing
experiments were based on flawed experimental procedures. Marks also said that Uri Geller
was able to hoodwink scientists, journalists and the many members of the public with a series of simple but audacious sleights of hand. Marks book, co-authored with the late Richard Kammann, The Psychology of the Psychic
(Marks & Kammann 1980; 2nd edn. Marks 2000; Forewords to both editions by Martin Gardner
) describes these case studies of paranormal claims together with a set of principles for explaining how people may believe so strongly in paranormal claims, such as psychological phenomena for the generation of paranormal beliefs is subjective validation
, a process through which people find a correspondence between randomly paired events, including coincidences (Marks, 2000).
both have a similar explanation: literacy differences across race and across time could be the cause of both. Racial IQ differences are converging as the literacy skills within two populations become more equal. Thus racial differences have an environmental cause, just like the Flynn effect.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
who is largely concerned with four areas of psychological research - health psychology
Health psychology
Health psychology is concerned with understanding how biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors are involved in physical health and illness. Health psychologists work alongside other medical professionals in clinical settings, work on behavior change in public health promotion,...
, cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology is a subdiscipline of psychology exploring internal mental processes.It is the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems.Cognitive psychology differs from previous psychological approaches in two key ways....
, parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
and IQ score variations. His late brother Jon Marks
Jon Marks
Jon Marks was a New Orleans jazz pianist.-Early influences:...
was a jazz musician.
Career
After completing a BSc at Reading University and a PhD at Sheffield University he migrated to New Zealand where he taught at the University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. In 1986 he returned to the UK as Head of the School of Psychology at Middlesex Polytechnic before working at City University
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
from 2000-10. He founded and edits the Journal of Health Psychology
Journal of Health Psychology
The Journal of Health Psychology, first published in 1996, is a peer-reviewed psychology journal. The managing editor is David Marks. -Scope:...
(A more detailed biography is published in Who's Who).
Health psychology
In his work on health psychologyHealth psychology
Health psychology is concerned with understanding how biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors are involved in physical health and illness. Health psychologists work alongside other medical professionals in clinical settings, work on behavior change in public health promotion,...
Marks advocates a greater understanding of the socio-political context affecting individual behaviour (Marks et al., 2005). With Michael Murray and colleagues he has actively promoted a critical-theoretical approach, including the foundation of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology
International Society of Critical Health Psychology
The International Society of Critical Health Psychology is a society devoted to debate about critical ideas within health psychology and developing new ways of health psychology practice....
. This organisation has included the consideration of social justice, community approaches, and arts projects for the reduction of health inequalities. Marks has also been interested in new research methods for clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
and health psychology
Health psychology
Health psychology is concerned with understanding how biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors are involved in physical health and illness. Health psychologists work alongside other medical professionals in clinical settings, work on behavior change in public health promotion,...
(Marks & Yardley, 2004).
Marks has promoted the use of cognitive behaviour therapy as an effective clinical approach to smoking cessation. This research began in New Zealand where Paul Sulzberger and he developed the Isis Smoking Cessation Programme (Sulzberger & Marks, 1977). After returning to England in 1986 Marks developed a UK-version of the programme which was originally published by the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
in 1993 as The QUIT FOR LIFE Programme (Marks 1993, 2005). The approach was developed further and re-published in the Overcoming series by Robinson as "Overcoming Your Smoking Habit
Habit (psychology)
Habits are routines of behavior that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously. Habitual behavior often goes unnoticed in persons exhibiting it, because a person does not need to engage in self-analysis when undertaking routine tasks...
" (Marks 2005).
Cognitive psychology
Marks' research into cognitive psychologyCognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology is a subdiscipline of psychology exploring internal mental processes.It is the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems.Cognitive psychology differs from previous psychological approaches in two key ways....
and mental imagery led to the development of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ)
Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ)
The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire was published in 1973 by the British psychologist David Marks . The VVIQ consists of 16 items in four groups of 4 items in which the participant is invited to consider the image formed in thinking about a specific scenes and situations. The vividness...
, a tool for the assessment of individual differences in visual imagery. Marks (1973) reported that high vividness scores correlate with the accuracy of recall of coloured photographs. In 1995 he published a new version of the VVIQ, the VVIQ2. This questionnaire consists of twice the number of items and reverses the rating scale so that higher scores reflect higher vividness. Rodway, Gillies and Schepman (2006) found that high vividness participants were significantly more accurate at detecting salient changes to pictures compared to low vividness participants, replicating an earlier study by Gur and Hilgard (1975). Recently Cui et al. (2007) found that reported image vividness correlates with increased activity in the visual cortex. This study shows that the subjective experience of forming a mental image is reflected by increased visual cortical activity.
Parapsychology and skepticism
With the late Denis DuttonDenis Dutton
Denis Dutton was an academic, web entrepreneur and libertarian media commentator/activist. He was a professor of philosophy at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand...
Marks co-founded the New Zealand Skeptics
New Zealand Skeptics
The New Zealand Skeptics comprises a network of New Zealanders including magicians, teachers, scientists, health professionals and many others from all walks of life...
in 1986. In his work on parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
Marks adopts a sceptical analysis of paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
claims. For example, Marks said that the original claims of remote viewing
Remote viewing
Remote viewing is the practice of seeking impressions about a distant or unseen target using paranormal means, in particular, extra-sensory perception or "sensing with mind"...
experiments were based on flawed experimental procedures. Marks also said that Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
was able to hoodwink scientists, journalists and the many members of the public with a series of simple but audacious sleights of hand. Marks book, co-authored with the late Richard Kammann, The Psychology of the Psychic
The Psychology of the Psychic
The Psychology of the Psychic is a work by David Marks and Dr Richard Kammann, written while both were lecturers in psychology at New Zealand's University of Otago....
(Marks & Kammann 1980; 2nd edn. Marks 2000; Forewords to both editions by Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
) describes these case studies of paranormal claims together with a set of principles for explaining how people may believe so strongly in paranormal claims, such as psychological phenomena for the generation of paranormal beliefs is subjective validation
Subjective validation
Subjective validation, sometimes called personal validation effect, is a cognitive bias by which a person will consider a statement or another piece of information to be correct if it has any personal meaning or significance to them...
, a process through which people find a correspondence between randomly paired events, including coincidences (Marks, 2000).
Literacy and IQ
Marks (2010) published a new explanation of why IQ scores systematically vary across time, race and nationality. Marks (2010) hypothesizes that IQ differences across time, race and nationality are all caused by differences in literacy. Intelligence test performance requires literacy skills not present in all people to the same extent. In eight different analyses mean full scale IQ and literacy scores yielded correlations ranging from .79 to .99. Racial differences in IQ and the Flynn effectFlynn effect
The Flynn effect is the name given to a substantial and long-sustained increase in intelligence test scores measured in many parts of the world. When intelligence quotient tests are initially standardized using a sample of test-takers, by convention the average of the test results is set to 100...
both have a similar explanation: literacy differences across race and across time could be the cause of both. Racial IQ differences are converging as the literacy skills within two populations become more equal. Thus racial differences have an environmental cause, just like the Flynn effect.