Skip to main content
Official Logo of Columbia Business School
Academics
  • Visit Academics
  • Degree Programs
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Campus Life
  • Career Management
Faculty & Research
  • Visit Faculty & Research
  • Academic Divisions
  • Search the Directory
  • Research
  • Faculty Resources
  • Teaching Excellence
Executive Education
  • Visit Executive Education
  • For Organizations
  • For Individuals
  • Program Finder
  • Online Programs
  • Certificates
About Us
  • Visit About Us
  • CBS Directory
  • Events Calendar
  • Leadership
  • Our History
  • The CBS Experience
  • Newsroom
Alumni
  • Visit Alumni
  • Update Your Information
  • Lifetime Network
  • Alumni Benefits
  • Alumni Career Management
  • Women's Circle
  • Alumni Clubs
Insights
  • Visit Insights
  • Digital Future
  • Climate
  • Business & Society
  • Entrepreneurship
  • 21st Century Finance
  • Magazine

Breadcrumb

  1. Directory
  2. Faculty
  3. Malia Mason

Malia Mason

Courtney C. Brown Professor of Business
Management Division
Senior Vice Dean For Faculty Affairs
Dean's Office
Malia Mason
Areas of Expertise
Decision Making & Negotiations, Leadership & Organizational Behavior
Contact
Office: 353 Kravis
Phone: (212) 8541070
E-mail: [email protected]
Links
Curriculum Vitae

Malia Mason teaches the Negotiations elective and co-directs the Women in Leadership Executive Education program at Columbia Business School. In addition to training Columbia graduates, she has brought her expertise to a variety of sectors including financial services, media, tech, telecom, and the arts, providing valuable consulting and training to employees at numerous firms.

Awards. Professor Mason's contributions as both a scholar and educator have earned her multiple prestigious awards. Her accolades include the American Psychological Society’s “Rising Star” Early Career Award, the Rotman School’s Dean’s Award for Emerging Leaders, Poet and Quant's World's Best 40 Under-40 Business School Professors, and the Columbia Business School’s Dean’s Prize for Teaching Excellence.

Research. Leveraging her expertise in social and cognitive psychology, Professor Mason offers insightful solutions to tackle various workplace challenges. Her research covers a broad range of topics, such as refining negotiation skills, understanding gender dynamics at work, managing first impressions, and optimally harnessing a wandering mind. She has published her research findings in the top journals in general science (Science), psychology (Psychological Science, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General), and management outlets (OBHDP, Harvard Business Review). Her work has received recognition from various major media outlets, including WSJ, CNN, CBS, Forbes, NPR, and The Atlantic.

Administrative Experience. As the School’s former Vice Dean for Research, Professor Mason led research operations, increased visibility for faculty research, and managed the school's 3 MS programs and 6 PhD programs. She continues her leadership contribution as the at-large member of the School’s Executive Committee.

Education
BA, Rice University, 2000; MA and PhD, Dartmouth College, 2005
Joined CBS
2007

All Activities

  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Awards and Honors
  • Press
  • CaseWorks
  • Journal articles
  • Working papers
  • Articles
  • Books
  • Chapters
Journal Article
Moulton, E., Janet Ahn, E.L. Haines, and Malia Mason
. “Women's work: Remembering communal goals.”
Motivation Science
vol.
5
, (January 01, 2019):
157
-
178
.
Explore Further about Women's work: Remembering communal goals
Download PDF on Women's work: Remembering communal goals
Journal Article
Akinola, Modupe, C. Kapadia, G.J. Lu, and Malia Mason
. “Incorporating physiology into creativity research and practice: The effects of bodily stress responses on creativity in organizations.”
Academy of Management Perspectives
vol.
33
, (January 01, 2019):
163
-
184
.
Explore Further about Incorporating physiology into creativity research and practice: The effects of bodily stress responses on creativity in organizations
Journal Article
Akinola, Modupe, C. Kapadia, G.J. Lu, and Malia Mason
. “Incorporating physiology into creativity research and practice: The effects of bodily stress responses on creativity in organizations.”
Academy of Management Perspectives
vol.
33(2)
, (January 01, 2019):
163
-
164
.
Explore Further about Incorporating physiology into creativity research and practice: The effects of bodily stress responses on creativity in organizations
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, Elizabeth A. Wiley, and Daniel Ames
. “From belief to deceit: How expectancies about others' ethics shape deception in negotiations.”
Journal of Experimental and Social Psychology
vol.
76
, (May 01, 2018):
239
-
248
.
Explore Further about From belief to deceit: How expectancies about others' ethics shape deception in negotiations
Download PDF on From belief to deceit: How expectancies about others' ethics shape deception in negotiations
Journal Article
Lee, A., David D. Loschelder, M. Schweinsberg, Malia Mason , and Adam Galinsky
. “Too precise to pursue: How precise offers discourage negotiation entry.”
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
vol.
148
, (January 01, 2018):
87
-
100
.
Explore Further about Too precise to pursue: How precise offers discourage negotiation entry
Download PDF on Too precise to pursue: How precise offers discourage negotiation entry
Journal Article
Lu, Jackson, Modupe Akinola , and Malia Mason
. “"Switching on" creativity: Task switching can increase creativity by reducing cognitive fixation.”
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
vol.
139
, (March 01, 2017):
63
-
75
.
Explore Further about "Switching on" creativity: Task switching can increase creativity by reducing cognitive fixation
Journal Article
Slepian, Michael, J.S. Chun, and Malia Mason
. “The experience of secrecy. .”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
vol.
113
, (January 01, 2017):
1
-
33
.
Explore Further about The experience of secrecy.
Journal Article
Ahn, J.N., E.L. Haines, and Malia Mason
. “Gender stereotypes and the coordination of mnemonic work within heterosexual couples: Romantic partners manage their daily to-dos.”
Sex Roles
vol.
00
, (January 01, 2017):
1
-
18
.
Explore Further about Gender stereotypes and the coordination of mnemonic work within heterosexual couples: Romantic partners manage their daily to-dos
Journal Article
Slepian, Michael, J.S. Chun, and Malia Mason
. “The experience of secrecy.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
vol.
113
, (January 01, 2017):
1
-
33
.
Explore Further about The experience of secrecy
Download PDF on The experience of secrecy
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and Nicholas Reinholtz
. “Avenues down which a self-reminding mind can wander.”
Motivation Science
vol.
1
, (March 01, 2015):
1
-
21
.
Explore Further about Avenues down which a self-reminding mind can wander
Journal Article
Ames, Daniel and Malia Mason
. “Tandem Anchoring: Informational and Politeness Effects of Range Offers in Social Exchange.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
vol.
108
, (February 01, 2015):
254
-
274
.
Explore Further about Tandem Anchoring: Informational and Politeness Effects of Range Offers in Social Exchange
Journal Article
Ames, Daniel and Malia Mason
. “When two anchors are better than one: How and why range offers shape negotiation outcomes.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
vol.
108
, (January 01, 2015):
254
-
274
.
Explore Further about When two anchors are better than one: How and why range offers shape negotiation outcomes
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, J. Magee, and S. Fiske
. “Neural substrates of social status inference: Role of medial prefrontal cortex and superior temporal sulcus.”
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
vol.
26
, (May 01, 2014):
1131
-
1140
.
Explore Further about Neural substrates of social status inference: Role of medial prefrontal cortex and superior temporal sulcus
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and Adam Waytz
. “Your Brain at Work.”
Harvard Business Review
vol.
91
, (July 01, 2013):
102
.
Explore Further about Your Brain at Work
Journal Article
Yap, Andy J., Malia Mason , and Daniel Ames
. “The powerful size others down: The link between power and estimates of others' size.”
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
vol.
49
, (May 01, 2013):
591
-
594
.
Explore Further about The powerful size others down: The link between power and estimates of others' size
Download PDF on The powerful size others down: The link between power and estimates of others' size
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, K. Brown, R. A. Mar, and J. Smallwood
. “Driver of discontent or escape vehicle: The affective consequences of mindwandering.”
Frontiers in Perception Science
vol.
4
, (January 01, 2013):
477
.
Explore Further about Driver of discontent or escape vehicle: The affective consequences of mindwandering
Download PDF on Driver of discontent or escape vehicle: The affective consequences of mindwandering
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, Alice J. Lee, Elizabeth A. Wiley, and Daniel Ames
. “Precise Offers Are Potent Anchors: Conciliatory Counteroffers and Attributions of Knowledge in Negotiations.”
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
vol.
49
, (January 01, 2013):
759
-
763
.
Explore Further about Precise Offers Are Potent Anchors: Conciliatory Counteroffers and Attributions of Knowledge in Negotiations
Download PDF on Precise Offers Are Potent Anchors: Conciliatory Counteroffers and Attributions of Knowledge in Negotiations
Journal Article
Norton, Michael, Malia Mason , Joseph Vandello, Andrew Biga, and Rebecca Dyer
. “An fMRI Investigation of Racial Paralysis.”
Social Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience
vol.
8
, (March 01, 2012):
387
.
Explore Further about An fMRI Investigation of Racial Paralysis
Download PDF on An fMRI Investigation of Racial Paralysis
Journal Article
Mar, R. A., Malia Mason , and A. Litvack
. “How daydreaming relates to life satisfaction, loneliness, and social support: The importance of gender and daydream content.”
Consciousness and Cognition
vol.
21
, (January 01, 2012):
401
-
407
.
Explore Further about How daydreaming relates to life satisfaction, loneliness, and social support: The importance of gender and daydream content
Download PDF on How daydreaming relates to life satisfaction, loneliness, and social support: The importance of gender and daydream content
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and Moshe Bar
. “The effect of mental progression on mood.”
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
vol.
141
, (January 01, 2011):
217
-
221
.
Explore Further about The effect of mental progression on mood
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, Joe Magee, and Louise Nind
. “Specialization in Relational Reasoning: The Efficiency, Accuracy, and Neural Substrates of Social versus Non-Social Inferences.”
Social Psychological and Personality Science
vol.
1
, (October 01, 2010):
318
-
326
.
Explore Further about Specialization in Relational Reasoning: The Efficiency, Accuracy, and Neural Substrates of Social versus Non-Social Inferences
Download PDF on Specialization in Relational Reasoning: The Efficiency, Accuracy, and Neural Substrates of Social versus Non-Social Inferences
Journal Article
Mason, Malia
. “Decision making and Testosterone: When the Ends Justify the Means.”
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
vol.
46
, (July 01, 2010):
668
-
671
.
Explore Further about Decision making and Testosterone: When the Ends Justify the Means
Download PDF on Decision making and Testosterone: When the Ends Justify the Means
Journal Article
Mason, Malia
. “Moral Decisions and Testosterone: When the Ends Justify the Means.”
Journal of Experimental and Social Psychology
vol.
46
, (July 01, 2010):
668
-
671
.
Explore Further about Moral Decisions and Testosterone: When the Ends Justify the Means
Download PDF on Moral Decisions and Testosterone: When the Ends Justify the Means
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and Michael Morris
. “Culture, attribution and automaticity: A social cognitive neuroscience view.”
Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience
vol.
5
, (June 01, 2010):
292
.
Explore Further about Culture, attribution and automaticity: A social cognitive neuroscience view
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and Michael Morris
. “Culture, Attribution and Automaticity: A Social Cognitive Neuroscience View.”
Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience
vol.
5
, (January 01, 2010):
292
-
306
.
Explore Further about Culture, Attribution and Automaticity: A Social Cognitive Neuroscience View
Journal Article
Quinn, Kimberly, Malia Mason , and Neil Macrae
. “When Arnold is "The Terminator," we no longer see him as a man: The temporal determinants of person perception.”
Experimental Psychology
vol.
57
, (January 01, 2010):
27
-
35
.
Explore Further about When Arnold is "The Terminator," we no longer see him as a man: The temporal determinants of person perception
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, Shu Zhang, and Rebecca Dyer
. “Male susceptibility to attentional capture by power cues.”
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
vol.
46
, (January 01, 2010):
482
-
485
.
Explore Further about Male susceptibility to attentional capture by power cues
Download PDF on Male susceptibility to attentional capture by power cues
Journal Article
Quinn, Kimberly, Malia Mason , and C. Neil Macrae
. “Familiarity and person construal: Individuating knowledge moderates the automaticity of category activation.”
European Journal of Social Psychology
vol.
39
, (August 01, 2009):
852
-
861
.
Explore Further about Familiarity and person construal: Individuating knowledge moderates the automaticity of category activation
Journal Article
Morris, Michael and Malia Mason
. “Intentionality in Intuitive Versus Analytic Processing: Insights from Social Cognitive Neuroscience.”
Psychological Inquiry
vol.
20
, (January 01, 2009):
58
-
65
.
Explore Further about Intentionality in Intuitive Versus Analytic Processing: Insights from Social Cognitive Neuroscience
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, Rebecca Dyer, and Michael I. Norton
. “Neural Mechanisms of Social Influence.”
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
vol.
110
, (January 01, 2009):
152
-
159
.
Explore Further about Neural Mechanisms of Social Influence
Download PDF on Neural Mechanisms of Social Influence
Journal Article
Morris, Michael and Malia Mason
. “Intentionality in intuitive versus analytic processing: Insights from social cognitive neuroscience.”
Psychological Inquiry
vol.
20
, (January 01, 2009):
58
-
65
.
Explore Further about Intentionality in intuitive versus analytic processing: Insights from social cognitive neuroscience
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and C. Neil Macrae
. “Perspective-taking from a social neuroscience standpoint.”
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
vol.
11
, (April 01, 2008):
215
-
232
.
Explore Further about Perspective-taking from a social neuroscience standpoint
Journal Article
Mason, Malia
. “Response to comment on "Wandering Minds: The Default Network and Stimulus-Independent Thought".”
Science
vol.
317
, (January 01, 2007):
43c
.
Explore Further about Response to comment on "Wandering Minds: The Default Network and Stimulus-Independent Thought"
Journal Article
Bar, Moshe, Elissa Aminoff, Malia Mason , and Mark Fenske
. “The Units of Thought.”
Hippocampus
vol.
17
, (January 01, 2007):
420
-
428
.
Explore Further about The Units of Thought
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, J. Cloutier, and C. Neil Macrae
. “On construing others: Category and stereotype activation from facial cues.”
Social Cognition
vol.
24
, (January 01, 2006):
540
-
563
.
Explore Further about On construing others: Category and stereotype activation from facial cues
Journal Article
Cloutier, J., Malia Mason , and C. Neil Macrae
. “The perceptual determinants of person construal: reopening the social-cognitive toolbox.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
vol.
88
, (January 01, 2005):
885
-
894
.
Explore Further about The perceptual determinants of person construal: reopening the social-cognitive toolbox
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, E. P. Tatkow, and C. Neil Macrae
. “The Look of Love: Gaze Shifts and Person Perception.”
Psychological Science
vol.
16
, (January 01, 2005):
236
-
39
.
Explore Further about The Look of Love: Gaze Shifts and Person Perception
Download PDF on The Look of Love: Gaze Shifts and Person Perception
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, J. Banfield, and C. Neil Macrae
. “Thinking about actions: The neural substrates of person knowledge.”
Cerebral Cortex
vol.
14(2)
, (February 01, 2004):
209
-
214
.
Explore Further about Thinking about actions: The neural substrates of person knowledge
Download PDF on Thinking about actions: The neural substrates of person knowledge
Journal Article
Macrae, C. Neil, Kimberly Quinn, Malia Mason , and S. Quadflieg
. “Understanding others: The face and person construal.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
vol.
89
, (January 01, 2004):
686
-
695
.
Explore Further about Understanding others: The face and person construal
Journal Article
Mason, Malia and C. Neil Macrae
. “Categorizing and individuating others: The neural substrates of person perception.”
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
vol.
16
, (January 01, 2004):
1785
-
1795
.
Explore Further about Categorizing and individuating others: The neural substrates of person perception
Download PDF on Categorizing and individuating others: The neural substrates of person perception
Journal Article
Mason, Malia, Bruce Hood, and C. Neil Macrae
. “Look into my eyes: Gaze direction and person memory.”
Memory
vol.
12
, (January 01, 2004):
637
-
643
.
Explore Further about Look into my eyes: Gaze direction and person memory
Journal Article
Quadflieg, S., Malia Mason , and C. Neil Macrae
. “The owl and the pussycat: Gaze cues and visuospatial orienting.”
Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
vol.
11
, (January 01, 2004):
826
-
831
.
Explore Further about The owl and the pussycat: Gaze cues and visuospatial orienting
Download PDF on The owl and the pussycat: Gaze cues and visuospatial orienting
Journal Article
Hebl, Mikki, J. Xu, and Malia Mason
. “Weighing the care: patients' perceptions of physician care as a function of gender and weight.”
International Journal of Obesity & Related Metabolic Disorders
vol.
27
, (January 01, 2003):
269
-
275
.
Explore Further about Weighing the care: patients' perceptions of physician care as a function of gender and weight
Journal Article
Macrae, C. Neil, Bruce Hood, A. B. Milne, A. C. Rowe, and Malia Mason
. “Are you looking at me? Eye gaze and person perception.”
Psychological Science
vol.
13
, (January 01, 2002):
460
-
464
.
Explore Further about Are you looking at me? Eye gaze and person perception
Download PDF on Are you looking at me? Eye gaze and person perception
Working Paper
Ariely, D., R. Ludwig, and Malia Mason
. Doing What's Best Instead of What's Best for You: Resisting Ethical Temptations. January 01, 2014.
Explore Further about Doing What's Best Instead of What's Best for You: Resisting Ethical Temptations
Working Paper
Zou, Xi and Malia Mason
. A Lay Theory of Homophily: Relational Information in First Impressions. January 01, 2011.
Explore Further about A Lay Theory of Homophily: Relational Information in First Impressions
Download PDF on A Lay Theory of Homophily: Relational Information in First Impressions
Working Paper
Norton, Michael I., Malia Mason , Joe Vandello, Andrew Biga, and Rebecca Dyer
. Racial Neutrality and Racial Paralysis. November 29, 2010.
Explore Further about Racial Neutrality and Racial Paralysis
Download PDF on Racial Neutrality and Racial Paralysis
Newspaper/Magazine Article
Martin, A.E. and Malia Mason
. “What does it mean to be (seen as) human? The Importance of gender in humanization.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
. January 01, 2022.
Explore Further about What does it mean to be (seen as) human? The Importance of gender in humanization.
Chapter
Galinsky, Adam, Malia Mason , and Joel Brockner
. “Psychologists in a business school: Where theory meets practice.” In
Career Paths in Psychology: Where Your Degree Can Take You
,
Washington, DC
:
American Psychological Association
, Forthcoming.
Explore Further about Psychologists in a business school: Where theory meets practice
Chapter
Ames, Daniel and Malia Mason
. “Mind Perception.” In
The Sage Handbook of Social Cognition
, edited by
S. Fiske and N. Macrae
,
New York
:
SAGE
, Forthcoming.
Explore Further about Mind Perception
Chapter
Ames, Daniel and Malia Mason
. “Mind Reading.” In
The Sage Handbook of Social Cognition
, edited by
S. Fiske and N. Macrae
,
New York
:
SAGE
, 2012.
Explore Further about Mind Reading
Download PDF on Mind Reading
Chapter
Duggan, William and Malia Mason
. “Strategic Intuition.” In
Handbook of Intuition Research
, edited by
Marta Sinclair
,
79
-
87
.
Cheltenham
:
Edward Elgar
, 2011.
Explore Further about Strategic Intuition
Download PDF on Strategic Intuition
Chapter
Mason, Malia, Moshe Bar, and C. Neil Macrae
. “Exploring the Past and Impending Future in the Here and Now: Mind-Wandering in the Default State.” In
Cognitive Science Compendium, vol. 2
, edited by
Miao-Kun Sun
,
109
-
123
.
Hauppauge, NY
:
Nova Publishers
, 2009.
Explore Further about Exploring the Past and Impending Future in the Here and Now: Mind-Wandering in the Default State
  • Courses
  • Case Studies
Course
B7510: Managerial Negotiations
View Course on Managerial Negotiations
Course
B8592: Immersive Teamwork
View Course on Immersive Teamwork
Case Study
Mason, Malia and Joel Brockner
. A Case of Office Fairness.  2010.
Explore Further about A Case of Office Fairness
Case Study
Mason, Malia and Daniel Ames
. Message in a Bottle: The Negotiation of an Advertising Campaign. 
New York
:
CaseWorks
, 2009.
Explore Further about Message in a Bottle: The Negotiation of an Advertising Campaign
  • Awards & Honors
2008

Sollicitudin Vulputate Ornare Elit Euismod

Nibh Lorem Egestas Euismod

with Daniel Keum and Anne-Carine Frederique

  • In the Media
  • Articles
In the Media

6 Secrets To Salary Negotiations (From A Former Recruiter)

Forbes
In the Media

Why It Matters Whether a Robot Is Given a Gender

The Wall Street Journal
In the Media

15 Top Tips for Salary Negotiations

Entrepreneur
In the Media

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen Members Ask for Salary Changes for Minorities

USA Today
Article

Professor Malia Mason looks at the reification of gender and technology

Read More about Professor Malia Mason looks at the reification of gender and technology
Article

How do romantic couples manage their daily to do’s?

Read More about How do romantic couples manage their daily to do’s?
Article

Keeping Secrets Is Harmful to Your Health, According to New Research from Columbia Business School

Read More about Keeping Secrets Is Harmful to Your Health, According to New Research from Columbia Business School
Article

Dean’s Office Announces 2015 MBA Teaching Awards

Read More about Dean’s Office Announces 2015 MBA Teaching Awards
Article

New Research Shows that Asking for a Precise—Not Round—Number During Negotiations Can Give You the Upper Hand

Read More about New Research Shows that Asking for a Precise—Not Round—Number During Negotiations Can Give You the Upper Hand
  • CaseWorks
Case ID
140420

BrainSnap Acquisition

How does one settle inter-party differences in order to achieve the most desirable outcome for one's team?

View Case on BrainSnap Acquisition
Case ID
140411

Message in a Bottle:The Negotiation of an Advertising Campaign

What makes a good negotiator? How do you build a BATNA?

View Case on Message in a Bottle:The Negotiation of an Advertising Campaign
Case ID
140410

The Office: A Question of Fairness

Is the meaning of "fairness" universal?

View Case on The Office: A Question of Fairness
Case ID
110419

Seven Continents Petroleum

Can three venture capital firms negotiate a deal for joint funding of a novel kind of alternative jet fuel?

View Case on Seven Continents Petroleum
Case ID
80403

A Primer on Personal Development

How can a leader learn from the perceptions of others?

View Case on A Primer on Personal Development

External CSS

Official Logo of Columbia Business School

Columbia University in the City of New York
665 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027
Tel. 212-854-1100

Maps and Directions
    • Centers & Programs
    • Current Students
    • Corporate
    • Directory
    • Support Us
    • Recruiters & Partners
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy & Policy Statements
Back to Top Upward arrow
TOP

© Columbia University

  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn