Cordelia Fine
Encyclopedia
Cordelia Fine is an Australian academic psychologist
and writer. She is the author of two books on neuroscience
, several book chapters and numerous academic publications. She wrote the introduction to The Britannica Guide to the Brain, is active as a journalist and wrote the column "Modern Mind" for newspaper The Australian
.
Born in Toronto
, Fine spent her childhood in the United States
and Edinburgh
. Fine has a B.A.
with first-class honours in experimental psychology from Oxford University (1995), M.Phil
in criminology from Cambridge University (1996), and Ph.D. in psychology from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London
(2001).
Her first book, A Mind of Its Own, synthesizes a large amount of cognitive research to show that the brain often gives a distorted picture of reality.
Her second book, Delusions of Gender
, argues against the neuropsychological theory that men's and women's brains are intrinsically different by critically analysing hundreds of studies on the subject. "With still such different contexts and circumstances for men and women, it's simply not possible to compare the choices they make and draw confident conclusions about the sexes' different inner natures." Fine's behaviourist
approach to gender differences has been criticised, especially as it does not account for what psychiatry calls gender identity disorders
.
Dr. Fine is a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Agency, Values & Ethics at Macquarie University
, Australia, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne
, Australia.
, Australia
with her husband and two sons. She is the daughter of noted children's author Anne Fine
and New York University
professor Kit Fine
. Her sister is University of Washington
professor Ione Fine.
Academic psychologist
An academic psychologist is a qualified psychologist who endorses the view that psychology is a scholarly and scientific enterprise, not an informal and intuitive practice...
and writer. She is the author of two books on neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, several book chapters and numerous academic publications. She wrote the introduction to The Britannica Guide to the Brain, is active as a journalist and wrote the column "Modern Mind" for newspaper The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Fine spent her childhood in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Fine has a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with first-class honours in experimental psychology from Oxford University (1995), M.Phil
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in criminology from Cambridge University (1996), and Ph.D. in psychology from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(2001).
Her first book, A Mind of Its Own, synthesizes a large amount of cognitive research to show that the brain often gives a distorted picture of reality.
Her second book, Delusions of Gender
Delusions of Gender
Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference is a book by Cordelia Fine published in 2010 which criticizes current evidence for innate biological differences between men and women's minds as being faulty and exaggerated, and argues that cultural and societal...
, argues against the neuropsychological theory that men's and women's brains are intrinsically different by critically analysing hundreds of studies on the subject. "With still such different contexts and circumstances for men and women, it's simply not possible to compare the choices they make and draw confident conclusions about the sexes' different inner natures." Fine's behaviourist
Behaviorism
Behaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
approach to gender differences has been criticised, especially as it does not account for what psychiatry calls gender identity disorders
Gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria . It describes the symptoms related to transsexualism, as well as less severe manifestations of gender dysphoria...
.
Dr. Fine is a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Agency, Values & Ethics at Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
, Australia, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, Australia.
Works
- Delusions of GenderDelusions of GenderDelusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference is a book by Cordelia Fine published in 2010 which criticizes current evidence for innate biological differences between men and women's minds as being faulty and exaggerated, and argues that cultural and societal...
. W. W. Norton, 30 August 2010. ISBN 0393068382 - The Britannica Guide to the Brain: A guided tour of the brain and all its functions. Robinson Publishing, 26 June 2008. ISBN 1845298039
- A Mind of Its Own. W. W. Norton, 17 July 2006. ISBN 0393062139.
Awards and nominations
- Fine was named as one of the Top 100 influential people of the year by The AgeThe AgeThe Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
/ Melbourne Magazine, December 2010. - A Mind of Its Own was one of twelve books long-listed for the prestigious UK Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
Science prize 2007. - Delusions of Gender was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary AwardVictorian Premier's Literary AwardThe Victorian Premier's Literary Awards were created by the Victorian Governmentwith the aim of raising the profile of contemporary creative writing and Australia's publishing industry....
for Non-Fiction 2011; the Best Book of Ideas Prize 2011; and the John Llewellyn Rhys PrizeJohn Llewellyn Rhys PrizeThe John Llewellyn Rhys Prize is a literary prize awarded annually for the best work of literature by an author from the Commonwealth aged 35 or under, written in English and published in the United Kingdom...
2010. It is a The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and London Evening StandardEvening StandardThe Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
2010 Book of the Year, a Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
2010 Best Non-Fiction Book of the Year pick.
Personal life
Cordelia Fine lives in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with her husband and two sons. She is the daughter of noted children's author Anne Fine
Anne Fine
Anne Fine, OBE FRSL is a British author best known for her children's books, of which she has written more than 50. She also writes for adults...
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
professor Kit Fine
Kit Fine
Kit Fine is Silver Professor of Philosophy and Mathematics at New York University. He previously taught for several years at UCLA...
. Her sister is University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
professor Ione Fine.