Marc Wilson

Professor Marc Wilson serves as Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research in the Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. He is a Professor of Psychology with a distinguished career spanning from 1999 to the present. His work location is EA 331, Easterfield Building, Gate 3, Kelburn Parade, Wellington, New Zealand.

Wilson's research program centers on the application of social psychological theory to important social issues, with a particular focus on non-suicidal self-injury since 2012. His work explores relationships between Social Dominance Orientation, authoritarianism, and social values as they relate to Treaty settlement processes, New Zealand national identity, and political preferences. Additional research interests include the psychology of food preferences (particularly meat consumption), religion, paranormal beliefs, conspiracy theories, and personality factors like psychopathy and narcissism.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on non-suicidal self-injury across diverse populations, including community adults, adolescents, and refugee youth. His work employs sophisticated methodologies including longitudinal designs, community surveys, and experimental paradigms. Wilson also contributes significantly to psychometric development and validation, particularly regarding scales measuring perfectionism, eco-anxiety, and conspiracy beliefs.

• VUW Teaching Excellence Award (2005)
• National Teaching Excellence Award (2008)
• New Zealand Association of Scientists Science Communicator Award (2010)
• VUW's Public Contribution Award (2011)
• Principal Fellow (PFHEA) from Advance HE (2018-present)

Wilson actively supervises numerous doctoral and master's students across diverse research topics related to mental health, resilience, self-injury, and social psychology. His current research is supported by multiple grants including "The Grown-Ups Aren't Alright" study on adult non-suicidal self-injury, "The (Mental) State of the Nation" project, and investigations into pet ownership and mental wellbeing. Beyond academia, Wilson writes a weekly psychology column in the New Zealand Listener and serves on boards including the International Society for the Study of Self-injury and the Ako Aotearoa Academy of Tertiary Teaching Excellence.