Phonetically, I'm zheel zhee-nyak. Pleased to me you!
Research Interests
I'm an individual differences researcher - I study the variations and distinctions among people's behaviours, traits, cognitive capacities, and attitudes. What contributes to the uniqueness of individuals and their diverse responses to psychological phenomena? How should we measure individual differences? What are the precursors and consequences of individual differences?
Over the years, I have focussed mostly on human intelligence (and increasingly AI), including papers on its fundamental nature. Intelligence is arguably the most consequential dimension of individual difference because it enables adaptation at a speed natural selection alone could never achieve. Instead of waiting for genes to change across generations, intelligence allows individuals to learn, reason, cooperate, and alter their environments within a single lifetime. Some of my work is relatively applied, such as my research on individual differences in financial literacy (a correlate of intelligence or perhaps a facet of intelligence?), though I also have an interest in the broader construct of financial capability.
Though seemingly unrelated, I'm also interested in narcissism, especially as it relates to the overestimation of abilities (a key defining characteristic of the grandiose narcissist). Correspondingly, I have a broader interest in meta-cognition, and I have published some work on the Dunning-Kruger hypothesis. More recently, this interest has extended to consciousness itself, or specifically framing access consciousness as consistent with five levels of cognitive ability.
Background and Education
As historical background, in 2004, I completed a PhD in psychology at Swinburne University of Technology under the supervision of Professor Con Stough. Shortly after submitting my thesis, I started working in the School of Psychology at Deakin University as a lecturer. Two years later (2006), I left Deakin for the University of Western Australia (lecturer). In 2008, I left to work in industry for about 4 years (Genos International), and then returned to the School of Psychological Science at UWA in 2012 to reclaim essentially the very same job I left in 2007, though at the level of senior lecturer. Today, I work as an associate professor.
I completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in 1999 under the supervision of Dr. Michael Persinger at Laurentian University (Canada). In August 1999, I moved to what was then known as the University of Western Ontario to work with Dr. Tony Vernon, receiving a Master of Arts degree in 2001.
I grew up in Wahnapitae, Ontario, a town of about 800 people.
Note for Potential Students
I am open to the possibility of taking-on one or two PhD students, assuming I have the expertise to supervise the projects. As you might have guessed, I'm interested in supervising projects relevant to individual differences, especially intelligence, financial literacy, and narcissism. Please visit here for more information on applying for a PhD at UWA.
