Ron Gold is Associate Professor in the School of Psychology. He teaches cognitive psychology at the second and third year levels, and supervises fourth year and higher degree students.
Ron Gold's main current research interests are in social cognition, particularly as applied to health-related decision-making. Over the last decade, in the light of the AIDS epidemic, he has extensively researched sexual decision-making, particularly in gay men. Most recently, his work has focused on 'unrealistic optimism' in relation to various threats to health.
Memberships
Member, Australian Psychological Society
Conferences
Gold, R.S., Skinner, M.J., Karmiloff-Smith, A., & Bartrip, J. (1991, June). Situational factors associated with unprotected intercourse: A comparison of one heterosexual and two homosexual samples. Paper presented at the Seventh International Conference on AIDS, Florence.
Gold, R.S., & Skinner, M.J. (1999, July). Decision-making processes underlying sexual risk-taking in gay men. Paper presented at the Sixth European Congress of Psychology, Rome, Italy.
Gold, R.S., Hinchy, J., & Batrouney, C. (1999, July). Reasons for non-uptake of antiretroviral therapy of Australians infected with HIV. Paper presented at the Fourth International Conference on AIDS’ Impact, Ottawa, Canada.
Gold, R.S. (2001, July). What joy does to the boy: Effects of mood states on AIDS-related judgments in gay men. Paper presented at the Fifth International Conference on AIDS’ Impact, Brighton, U.K.
Gold, R.S., Martyn, K., & Aucote, H.M. (2003, July). Explaining unrealistic optimism. Paper presented at the Eighth European Congress of Psychology, Vienna, Austria.