Glenn Wilson (psychologist)

) 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 [Rushton, J.P. (2001) "Personality and Individual Differences", 31, 19-39.] . 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 Canterbury, 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" [Eysenck, H.J., Wilson, G.D. (1991) "Manual for the Eysenck Personality Profiler", Cymeon, Guildford.] , a standard personality test used in clinical research and industry. With John Patterson, he devised the "Wilson-Patterson Conservatism Scale" [Wilson, G.D. & Patterson, J.R. (1968) A new measure of conservatism, "British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology", 7, 264-269.] , which remains one of the most widely used measures in social attitude research [Smelser, J. (1987) "Contemporary Classics in the Social and Behavioral Sciences", ISI Press, Philadelphia (p20).] . His 1973 theory that a heritable trait reflecting fear of uncertainty underlies social attitudes in all fields [Wilson, G.D. (1973) "The Psychology of Conservatism" Academic Press, London.] has much empirical support [Bouchard, T.J. et al (2003), Evidence for the construct validity and heritability of the Wilson-Patterson Conservatism Scale, "Personality and Individual Differences", 34, 959-969] [Jost, J.T. et al (2007) Are needs to manage uncertainty associated with political conservatism and ideological extremity? "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin", 33, 989-1007.] . 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 [Knyazev, G.G., Slobodskaya, H.R. & Wilson, G.D. (2004) Personality and brain oscillations in developmental perspective. In S.P. Shohov (Ed) "Advances in Psychology Research, Vol. 29", Nova Science Publishers, New York.] .

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 measure of female sexual attractiveness [Wilson, G.D., Nias, D.K.B. & Brazendale, A.H. (1975) Vital statistics, perceived sexual attractiveness and response to risque humor. "Journal of Social Psychology", 95, 201-205.] presaged the waist-hip ratio, now widely accepted as an oestrogen (fertility) marker. His studies of sex fantasy yielded the "Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire" [Wilson, G.D. (1988) Measurement of sex fantasy, "Sexual and Relationship Therapy", 3, 45-55.] , 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 [Wilson, G.D. (1983) Finger length as an index of assertiveness in women. "Personality and Individual Differences", 4, 111-112.] , 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 [Wilson, G.D. & Cousins, J. (2003) "CQ: The Secret of Lasting Love", Fusion Books, London.] has resulted in his characterization as "the father of modern compatibility testing" [Houran, J. [http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/features/compatibilitytesting.html Online Dating Magazine] .] . With Q.Rahman, Wilson has published research supporting the conclusion that sexual orientation is of constitutional origin [Wilson, G.D. & Rahman, Q (2005) "Born Gay: The Psychobiology of Sex Orientation", Peter Owen, London]

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 (Gresham College and Royal College of Music). His book "Psychology for Performing Artists" [Wilson, G.D. (2002) "Psychology for Performing Artists: 2nd Edition", Wiley, Chichester.] , 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, where he is now Honorary Senior Lecturer. 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.

Notes

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
* Lader, M., Lang, R.A. & Wilson, G.D. - "Patterns of Improvement in Depressed Inpatients," 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

External links

* [http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/staff/profile/default.aspx?go=10252 Dr Glenn D Wilson, Institute of Psychiatry]
* [http://www.just25words.co.uk/ Just25words.co.uk - Online introduction service using Glenn Wilson's CQ (Compatibility Quotient)]