World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Geoff MacDonald

Geoff MacDonald

D-Index & Metrics

Psychology

D-Index
42
Citations
9206
World Ranking
7467
National Ranking
503

Overview

Geoff MacDonald is affiliated with the University of Toronto in Canada and has contributed extensively to the field of psychology, with a primary focus on social psychology and related subfields. Their research spans multiple areas including attachment and relationship dynamics, evolutionary psychology and human behavior, family dynamics, behavioral health interventions, and topics related to marriage, sexual relationships, work-family balance, and sexuality.

Their notable recent publications demonstrate involvement in diverse psychological themes. These include:

  • "Machine learning uncovers the most robust self-report predictors of relationship quality across 43 longitudinal couples studies" (2020), published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "Coping or Thriving? Reviewing Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Societal Factors Associated With Well-Being in Singlehood From a Within-Group Perspective" (2022), published in Perspectives on Psychological Science
  • "Singles' Sexual Satisfaction is Associated With More Satisfaction With Singlehood and Less Interest in Marriage" (2020), published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
  • "Associations of attachment avoidance and anxiety with life satisfaction, satisfaction with singlehood, and desire for a romantic partner" (2021), published in Personal Relationships
  • "Single and Partnered Individuals' Sexual Satisfaction as a Function of Sexual Desire and Activities: Results Using a Sexual Satisfaction Scale Demonstrating Measurement Invariance Across Partnership Status" (2022), published in Archives of Sexual Behavior

The body of published work is primarily found in journals such as:

  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
  • Personal Relationships
  • Journal of Personality
  • Social Psychological and Personality Science
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Frequent collaborators include several researchers with whom Geoff MacDonald has co-authored multiple times. These co-authors are:

  • Yoobin Park
  • Emily A. Impett
  • Samantha Joel
  • Yuthika U. Girme
  • Dacher Keltner

The research topics that MacDonald has addressed reflect their interdisciplinary approach within social sciences and psychology, with many studies focused on interpersonal relationships, attachment styles, and factors affecting individual well-being within the context of romantic partnership and singlehood.

The main fields of study covered by MacDonald's work include:

  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences

The subfields of particular emphasis are:

  • Social Psychology
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Demography
  • Clinical Psychology

Key topics investigated throughout their career encompass:

  • Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Marriage and Sexual Relationships
  • Work-Family Balance Challenges
  • Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Best Publications

  • Why Does Social Exclusion Hurt? The Relationship Between Social and Physical Pain.

    Geoff MacDonald;Mark R. Leary

  • Acetaminophen Reduces Social Pain Behavioral and Neural Evidence

    C. Nathan DeWall;Geoff MacDonald;Gregory D. Webster;Carrie L. Masten

  • Individual differences in self-esteem: A review and theoretical integration

    Mark R. Leary;Geoff MacDonald

  • Through the looking glass darkly? When self-doubts turn into relationship insecurities.

    Sandra L. Murray;John G. Holmes;Geoff MacDonald;Phoebe C. Ellsworth

  • Alcohol, sexual arousal, and intentions to use condoms in young men: applying alcohol myopia theory to risky sexual behavior.

    Tara K. MacDonald;Geoff MacDonald;Mark P. Zanna;Geoffrey T. Fong

  • Settling for less out of fear of being single

    Stephanie S. Spielmann;Geoff MacDonald;Jessica A. Maxwell;Samantha Joel

  • Proposal of a four-dimensional model of social response.

    Paul R. Nail;Geoff MacDonald;David A. Levy

  • Machine learning uncovers the most robust self-report predictors of relationship quality across 43 longitudinal couples studies

    Samantha Joel;Paul W. Eastwick;Colleen J. Allison;Ximena B. Arriaga

  • Empathy gaps for social pain: Why people underestimate the pain of social suffering.

    Loran F. Nordgren;Kasia Banas;Geoff MacDonald

  • An update of the empirical case for the need to belong.

    Judith Gere;Geoff MacDonald

  • Social approval and trait self-esteem.

    Geoff MacDonald;Jennifer L Saltzman;Mark R Leary

  • The Things You Do for Me Perceptions of a Romantic Partner’s Investments Promote Gratitude and Commitment

    Samantha Joel;Amie M. Gordon;Emily A. Impett;Geoff MacDonald

  • Individual differences in self-esteem.

    Geoff MacDonald;Mark R. Leary

  • Conflicting Pressures on Romantic Relationship Commitment for Anxiously Attached Individuals

    Samantha Joel;Geoff MacDonald;Atsushi Shimotomai

  • Social pain : neuropsychological and health implications of loss and exclusion

    Geoff MacDonald;Lauri A. Jensen-Campbell

  • How implicit theories of sexuality shape sexual and relationship well-being.

    Jessica A. Maxwell;Amy Muise;Geoff MacDonald;Lisa C. Day

  • On the Rebound: Focusing on Someone New Helps Anxiously Attached Individuals Let Go of Ex-Partners

    Stephanie S. Spielmann;Geoff MacDonald;Anne E. Wilson

  • Does physical pain augment anxious attachment

    Geoff Macdonald;Rachell Kingsbury

  • Don’t Get Your Hopes Up Avoidantly Attached Individuals Perceive Lower Social Reward When There Is Potential for Intimacy

    Stephanie S. Spielmann;Jessica A. Maxwell;Geoff MacDonald;Patricia L. Baratta

  • Insecure attachment predicts ambivalent social threat and reward perceptions in romantic relationships

    Geoff MacDonald;Kenneth D. Locke;Stephanie S. Spielmann;Samantha Joel

Frequent Co-Authors

Emily A. Impett
Emily A. Impett University of Toronto
Amy Muise
Amy Muise York University
Mark R. Leary
Mark R. Leary Duke University
Dacher Keltner
Dacher Keltner University of California, Berkeley
John G. Holmes
John G. Holmes University of Waterloo
Sandra L. Murray
Sandra L. Murray University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Phoebe C. Ellsworth
Phoebe C. Ellsworth University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Shanmukh V. Kamble
Shanmukh V. Kamble Karnatak University
Mark P. Zanna
Mark P. Zanna University of Waterloo
Jennifer L. Tackett
Jennifer L. Tackett Northwestern University

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring a degree in Psychology opens doors to several related fields, with Social Work being among the most popular and versatile pathways. Many students consider online programs due to their flexibility and accelerated timelines, which allow for quicker entry into the workforce.

If you want to specialize in Social Work, you can find some of the fastest online social work degree programs in Arizona, which are tailored for those seeking efficient routes to a rewarding career. Nationwide, prospective undergraduates can also explore the fastest online social work bachelor's degree programs in America, helping them gain vital skills in less time.

For students based in California, there are dedicated options like the fastest online social work programs in California, which are ideal for meeting local licensing requirements and job market needs. Meanwhile, aspiring graduates interested in an accelerated pathway may look into accelerated online social work degrees in Massachusetts, designed for advanced study with a fast-paced curriculum.

Online Social Work degrees not only complement a Psychology background but also expand your career options in healthcare, counseling, and community services—making them a smart investment for the future.

Best Scientists Citing Geoff MacDonald

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles