Ken Strongman

Kenneth Thomas Strongman (2 December 1940 – 29 December 2019) was a New Zealand psychologist and academic, and was a professor of psychology at the University of Canterbury, specialising in the field of emotion. He was also a short-story writer, book and television reviewer, and newspaper columnist.

Ken Strongman
Born
Kenneth Thomas Strongman

(1940-12-02)2 December 1940
Ware, Hertfordshire, England
Died29 December 2019(2019-12-29) (aged 79)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Children2
Academic background
Alma materUniversity College London
ThesisAn investigation of experimentally induced anxiety in the rat (1964)
Academic work
DisciplinePsychology
Sub-disciplineEmotion
InstitutionsUniversity of Exeter
University of Canterbury

Early life and family

Born on 2 December 1940 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, Strongman was the son of Grace Mary Strongman (née Dew) and Alfred Thomas Strongman.[1] He grew up in a terrace house in Highbury, North London,[2] and was educated at Dame Alice Owen's School where his contemporaries included John Broadhurst.[1][3] Strongman then studied at University College London, from where he graduated Bachelor of Science in 1962, and PhD in 1964.[1] The title of his doctoral thesis was An investigation of experimentally induced anxiety in the rat.[4]

In 1964, Strongman married Thelma Madeline Francis, and they went on to have two children,[1] including art curator, writer, and film and television critic Lara Strongman.[2] The couple later divorced, and Strongman remarried.[5]

Academic career

Strongman began his academic career in 1964 as a lecturer and then senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.[1] He moved to New Zealand in 1979 when he was appointed professor and head of department of psychology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, where he remained for the rest of his career.[1] He served 15 years as head of department, and later held managerial roles at Canterbury, including as assistant vice-chancellor (government and community relations) and pro-vice-chancellor arts.[6][7] Following his retirement in 2010, Strongman was conferred with the title of professor emeritus.[8]

Strongman was regarded as an international expert on emotion, and his research covered both theoretical and empirical aspects of the subject.[6] He wrote one of the standard texts, The Psychology of Emotion, first published in 1973, and in its sixth edition in 2003.[6] In 2003, Strongman was one of 140 prominent New Zealanders who signed a petition that was presented to Parliament, seeking a royal commission into the Christchurch Civic Crèche abuse case.[9]

Other activities

Strongman was a long-time television and film reviewer for The Press newspaper in Christchurch, from the 1980s until a few months before his death.[10][11][12] In 2013, he began writing a fortnightly column on retirement and ageing for The Press, titled Over the Hill.[13][14] He also wrote several short stories.[1]

Strongman was a member of the Film Censorship Board of Review in New Zealand between 1984 and 1986.[1] He also served as a member of the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Board.[1]

Honours

Strongman was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Psychological Society in 1982, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society in 1990.[1] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1994.[15]

Death

Strongman died at his home in Christchurch on 29 December 2019.[5]

References
  1. Lambert, Max, ed. (1991). Who's Who in New Zealand (12th ed.). Auckland: Reed. p. 608. ISBN 0-7900-0130-6.
  2. Strongman, Lara. "Untrustowrthy". The Wool Lover. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  3. "Barry Hyman – left 1959" (PDF). Old Owenians' Newsletter. 14 December 2011. p. 22. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. Strongman, Kenneth T. (1964). An investigation of experimentally induced anxiety in the rat (PhD). University of London. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. "Kenneth Strongman death notice". The Press. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. "Speakers". Humboldt Conference 2010 in Dunedin. University of Otago. 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  7. "Change proposal – College of Arts" (PDF). University of Canterbury. January 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  8. "Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Representatives. 674: 20273. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  9. "Ellis supporters need new evidence says Goff". New Zealand Herald. 25 June 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  10. Strongman, Ken (11 October 2013). "Cleaning out clutter can be 'almost spiritual'". The Press. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  11. Steincamp, Jacquelin (11 August 1984). "Liz Grant". The Listener. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via KiwiTV.
  12. Strongman, Ken (31 August 2019). "Book review: The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  13. Strongman, Ken (13 July 2013). "Over the hill". The Press. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Deconstructions.
  14. "Ken Strongman: WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival". Christchurch City Libraries. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. "List of all Fellows with surnames S–U". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
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