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Wendy Wood
James B. Duke Professor in Psychology and Professor of Marketing Co-Director, Social Science Research Institute

PhD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1980   Box 90085 Durham, NC 27708-0085 Tel: 919-660-5785 Fax: (919)660-5726 Email Address: wendy.wood@duke.edu

Research Interests:

My research interests are in the areas of sex differences and attitudes and behavior. In studying sex differences, I have been working with Dr. Alice Eagly (Northwestern University) to develop a general theory of the origins of sex differences that explains why men and women have similar roles in many societies. Most recently, we have conducted a review of men’s and women’s behavior across cultures to identify what might be essential aspects of sex and what might be more variable across cultures. In other research, my students and I explain the psychological processes that lead to sex differences within our society. Specifically, why do some women act feminine and some men act masculine, whereas others don’t follow these sex-typed norms?
In the area of attitudes and behavior prediction, I am studying the multiple cognitive and affective processes that guide behavior. These include non-thoughtful processes, such as habitual responses that are relatively automatically cued by stable environmental cues, and more thoughtful processes, such as when actions are guided by intentions and attitudes.
For examples of this research, see the publications below.

Representative Publications

1. Neal, D. T., & Wood, W (Submitted, 2007). Power of context: Habits do not depend on goals. Psychological Science.
2. Ji, M., & Wood, W (2007). Purchase and consumption habits: Not always what you intend. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 17, 261-276.
3. Wood, W., & Eagly, A. H. "Social structural origins of sex differences in human mating.." Evolution of mind: Fundamental questions and controversies. Ed. S. Gangestad & J. A. Simpson. Guilford Press, 2007: 383-390.
4. Aldrich, J. A., Montgomery, J., & Wood, W (Submitted, 2007). Voting habits. American Political Science Review.
5. Wood, W. & Eagly, A. H. (Accepted, in press). An evolutionary biosocial theory of human mating. The Evolution of Mind: Fundamental Questions and Controversies.