Matthew Nock Appointed Professor of Psychology at Harvard

Cambridge, Mass. June 10, 2010 - Clinical psychologist Matthew K. Nock, renowned for his research on self-injury and suicidal behavior in adolescents and adults, has been named professor of psychology at Harvard University. Nock was previously John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2003. "Few researchers have addressed the psychology of life and death more creatively than Professor Nock," says Stephen Kosslyn, dean of social science in Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. "His scientific record is astonishing, distinguished by both its quality and its quantity. He has made several field-transforming discoveries that promise not only to deepen our understanding of self-destructive behavior, but also to save the lives of suicidal people. He has also earned a reputation as one of Harvard's finest teachers, winning numerous teaching awards." Nock's research examines why people harm themselves, helping explain why those suffering from severe emotional distress may opt to engage in evolutionarily paradoxical behaviors like cutting or burning themselves.