Glenn Wilson (psychologist)
Encyclopedia
Glenn Daniel Wilson is a psychologist best known for his work on attitude and personality measurement, sexual attraction, deviation and dysfunction, partner compatibility, and psychology applied to performing arts.
In 2001, Wilson was ranked among the 10 most frequently cited British psychologists in scientific journals. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and makes frequent media appearances as a psychology expert, especially in TV news and documentaries.
, Christchurch, Wilson moved to London in 1967 to study for his PhD under the supervision of Professor Hans Eysenck
, with whom he subsequently collaborated on a number of research projects and co-authored six books. He also co-authored the Eysenck Personality Profiler, a standard personality test used in clinical research and industry. With John Patterson, he devised the Wilson-Patterson Conservatism Scale, which remains one of the most widely used measures in social attitude research. His 1973 theory that a heritable trait reflecting fear of uncertainty underlies social attitudes in all fields has much empirical support. Together with G.Knyazev and H.Slobodskaya of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Wilson has researched the EEG correlates of personality and produced a theory of the evolution of brain oscillations.
Wilson was a pioneer of evolutionary
approaches to understanding human sex differences and mating behavior, attracting some hostility when this was unfashionable in the 1970s. His use of the bust-waist ratio as an objective index of female sexual attractiveness presaged the waist-hip ratio, now widely accepted as an oestrogen (fertility) marker. His studies of sex fantasy yielded the Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire, often used in research and forensic psychology
. Noting that men and women had different finger length patterns, Wilson introduced the 2D/4D digit ratio
as a marker of exposure to prenatal testosterone, research on which has burgeoned in recent decades. His work, with Jon Cousins, in developing the compatibility quotient (CQ) as a predictor of relationship success has resulted in his characterization as "the father of modern compatibility testing". With Qazi Rahman, Wilson has published research supporting the conclusion that sexual orientation
is of constitutional origin.
An interest in music and singing (he is a part-time professional baritone) led to courses on Psychology of Performance, which he has taught both in the US and UK. His book Psychology for Performing Artists, now in its 2nd edition, is a standard text in music and drama schools.
From 1994 until 2008, Wilson was Reader in Personality at the Institute of Psychiatry
, King's College
, University of London. He has held visiting appointments at several American institutions, including California State University, Los Angeles
, Stanford University
, San Francisco State University, Sierra Nevada College and the University of Nevada, Reno
, where he was Adjunct Professor for many years. He is currently Visiting Professor of Psychology
at Gresham College
, London.
In 2001, Wilson was ranked among the 10 most frequently cited British psychologists in scientific journals. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and makes frequent media appearances as a psychology expert, especially in TV news and documentaries.
Biography
After graduating MA with 1st-class honors at the University of CanterburyUniversity of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, Christchurch, Wilson moved to London in 1967 to study for his PhD under the supervision of Professor Hans Eysenck
Hans Eysenck
Hans Jürgen Eysenck was a German-British psychologist who spent most of his career in Britain, best remembered for his work on intelligence and personality, though he worked in a wide range of areas...
, with whom he subsequently collaborated on a number of research projects and co-authored six books. He also co-authored the Eysenck Personality Profiler, a standard personality test used in clinical research and industry. With John Patterson, he devised the Wilson-Patterson Conservatism Scale, which remains one of the most widely used measures in social attitude research. His 1973 theory that a heritable trait reflecting fear of uncertainty underlies social attitudes in all fields has much empirical support. Together with G.Knyazev and H.Slobodskaya of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Wilson has researched the EEG correlates of personality and produced a theory of the evolution of brain oscillations.
Wilson was a pioneer of evolutionary
Evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology is an approach in the social and natural sciences that examines psychological traits such as memory, perception, and language from a modern evolutionary perspective. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations, that is, the functional...
approaches to understanding human sex differences and mating behavior, attracting some hostility when this was unfashionable in the 1970s. His use of the bust-waist ratio as an objective index of female sexual attractiveness presaged the waist-hip ratio, now widely accepted as an oestrogen (fertility) marker. His studies of sex fantasy yielded the Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire, often used in research and forensic psychology
Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology is the intersection between psychology and the criminal justice system. It involves understanding criminal law in the relevant jurisdictions in order to be able to interact appropriately with judges, attorneys and other legal professionals...
. Noting that men and women had different finger length patterns, Wilson introduced the 2D/4D digit ratio
Digit ratio
The digit ratio is the ratio of the lengths of different digits or fingers typically measured from the bottom crease where the finger joins the hand to the tip of the finger. It has been suggested by some scientists that the ratio of two digits in particular, the 2nd and 4th , is affected by...
as a marker of exposure to prenatal testosterone, research on which has burgeoned in recent decades. His work, with Jon Cousins, in developing the compatibility quotient (CQ) as a predictor of relationship success has resulted in his characterization as "the father of modern compatibility testing". With Qazi Rahman, Wilson has published research supporting the conclusion that sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
is of constitutional origin.
An interest in music and singing (he is a part-time professional baritone) led to courses on Psychology of Performance, which he has taught both in the US and UK. His book Psychology for Performing Artists, now in its 2nd edition, is a standard text in music and drama schools.
From 1994 until 2008, Wilson was Reader in Personality at the Institute of Psychiatry
Institute of Psychiatry
The Institute of Psychiatry is a research institution dedicated to discovering what causes mental illness and diseases of the brain. In addition, its aim is to help identify new treatments for them and ways to prevent them in the first place...
, King's College
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, University of London. He has held visiting appointments at several American institutions, including California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, San Francisco State University, Sierra Nevada College and the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, where he was Adjunct Professor for many years. He is currently Visiting Professor of Psychology
Visiting Gresham Professor
Visiting Professors at Gresham College, Holborn, London, give free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596 / 7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and plus the Visiting Professors.The first Visiting Professors...
at Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, London.
Selected works
- Eysenck, H.J. & Wilson, G.D. - The Experimental Study of Freudian Theories, 1973
- Wilson, G.D. - Improve Your IQ, 1974
- Eysenck, H.J. & Wilson, G.D. (Eds.) - A Textbook of Human Psychology, 1976
- Eysenck, H.J. & Wilson, G.D. - Know Your Own Personality, 1975
- Wilson, G.D. & Nias, D.K.B. - Love’s Mysteries: The Psychology of Sexual Attraction, 1976
- Wilson, G.D. - The Secrets of Sexual Fantasy, 1978
- Wilson, G.D. & Grylls, D. - Know Your Child’s IQ, 1977
- Eysenck. H.J. & Wilson, G.D. - The Psychological Basis of Ideology, 1978
- Cook, M. & Wilson, G.D. (Eds.) - Love and Attraction: An International Conference, 1979
- Eysenck, H.J. & Wilson, G.D. - The Psychology of Sex, 1979
- Wilson, G.D. & Cox, D.N. - The Child Lovers: A Study of Paedophiles in Society, 1980.
- Gosselin, C.C. & Wilson, G.D. - Sexual Variations: Fetishism, Sadomasochism and Transvestism, 1980
- Wilson, G.D. - Love and Instinct, 1981
- Wilson, G.D. - The Coolidge Effect: An Evolutionary Account of Human Sexuality, 1982
- Wilson, G.D. - The Psychology of Performing Arts, 1985
- Wilson, G.D. (Ed). - Variant Sexuality: Research and Theory, 1987
- Wilson, G.D. - Self Discovery, 1989
- Wilson, G.D. - The Great Sex Divide: A Study of Male-Female Differences, 1989
- Wilson, G.D. (Ed). - Psychology and Performing Arts, 1991
- Wilson, G.D. - Psychology for Performing Artists: Butterflies and Bouquets, 1994
- Wilson, G.D. - Your Personality Quiz Book, 1994
- Wilson, G.D. & McLaughlin, C. - Better Sex, 1995
- Wilson, G.D. & McLaughlin, C. - Winning with Body Language, 1996
- Evans, A. & Wilson, G.D. - Fame: The Psychology of Stardom, 1999
- Wilson, G.D. & McLaughlin, C. - The Science of Love, 2001