# Ken Strongman > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ken_Strongman > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ken_Strongman.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Strongman > Source revision: 1320984684 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|New Zealand psychologist (1940–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox academic | name = Ken Strongman | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Kenneth Thomas Strongman | birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|12|02|df=y}} | birth_place = [Ware](/source/Ware%2C_Hertfordshire), [Hertfordshire](/source/Hertfordshire), England | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|12|29|1940|12|02|df=y}} | death_place = [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch), New Zealand | spouse = | children = 2 | relatives = | awards = | alma_mater = [University College London](/source/University_College_London) | thesis_title = An investigation of experimentally induced anxiety in the rat | thesis_url = https://ucl-new-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1aqq6ji/UCL_LMS_DS21280888600004761 | thesis_year = 1964 | doctoral_advisor = | influences = | discipline = [Psychology](/source/Psychology) | sub_discipline = [Emotion](/source/Emotion) | workplaces = [University of Exeter](/source/University_of_Exeter)
[University of Canterbury](/source/University_of_Canterbury) | doctoral_students = [Tracy Berno](/source/Tracy_Berno) | notable_students = | main_interests = | notable_works = | notable_ideas = | influenced = }} '''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](/source/University_of_Canterbury), specialising in the field of [emotion](/source/emotion). He was also a short-story writer, book and television reviewer, and newspaper columnist. ==Early life and family== Born on 2 December 1940 in [Ware](/source/Ware%2C_Hertfordshire), [Hertfordshire](/source/Hertfordshire), England, Strongman was the son of Grace Mary Strongman (née Dew) and Alfred Thomas Strongman.{{cite book |editor-last=Lambert |editor-first=Max |title=Who's Who in New Zealand |edition=12th |year=1991 |publisher=Reed |location=Auckland |isbn=0-7900-0130-6 |page=608}} He grew up in a [terrace house](/source/terrace_house) in [Highbury](/source/Highbury), North London, and was educated at [Dame Alice Owen's School](/source/Dame_Alice_Owen's_School) where his contemporaries included [John Broadhurst](/source/John_Broadhurst).{{cite news |url=https://damealiceowens.alumni-online.com/StaticFiles/DameAliceOwensITW_0000000130.pdf |title=Barry Hyman – left 1959 |date=14 December 2011 |work=Old Owenians' Newsletter |access-date=21 January 2020 |page=22 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} Strongman then studied at [University College London](/source/University_College_London), from where he graduated [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) in 1962, and [PhD](/source/PhD) in 1964. The title of his doctoral thesis was ''An investigation of experimentally induced anxiety in the rat''.{{cite thesis |url=https://ucl-new-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1aqq6ji/UCL_LMS_DS21280888600004761 |title=An investigation of experimentally induced anxiety in the rat |type=PhD |publisher=University of London |first=Kenneth T. |last=Strongman |year=1964 |access-date=21 January 2020}} In 1964, Strongman married Thelma Madeline Francis, and they went on to have two children, including art curator, writer, and film and television critic Lara Strongman.{{cite web |url=https://thewoollover.nz/untrustworthy.html |title=Untrustowrthy |first=Lara |last=Strongman |website=The Wool Lover |access-date=21 January 2020}} The couple later divorced, and Strongman remarried. ==Academic career== Strongman began his academic career in 1964 as a lecturer and then senior lecturer at the [University of Exeter](/source/University_of_Exeter). He moved to New Zealand in 1979 when he was appointed professor and head of department of psychology at the [University of Canterbury](/source/University_of_Canterbury) in [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch), where he remained for the rest of his career. 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/humboldt2010/speakers.html |title=Speakers |year=2010 |website=Humboldt Conference 2010 in Dunedin |publisher=University of Otago |access-date=21 January 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907145109/http://www.otago.ac.nz/humboldt2010/speakers.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0801/College_of_Arts_Change_Proposal.pdf |title=Change proposal – College of Arts |date=January 2008 |publisher=University of Canterbury |access-date=21 January 2020}} Following his retirement in 2010, Strongman was conferred with the title of [professor emeritus](/source/Emeritus).{{cite journal |title=Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill |url=https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/49HansD_20110803/f214b5a400755bb434e7e2e411a1def24b611a83 |journal=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |publisher=House of Representatives |date=3 August 2011 |volume=674 |page=20273 |access-date=21 January 2020}} Notable students of Strongman include [Tracy Berno](/source/Tracy_Berno).{{Cite thesis |title=The socio-cultural and psychological effects of tourism on indigenous cultures |last=Berno |first=T. E. L. |type=PhD thesis |publisher=University of Canterbury |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10092/4941 |date=1995}} Strongman was regarded as an international expert on emotion, and his research covered both theoretical and empirical aspects of the subject. He wrote one of the standard texts, ''The Psychology of Emotion'', first published in 1973, and in its sixth edition in 2003. In 2003, Strongman was one of 140 prominent New Zealanders who signed a petition that was presented to Parliament, seeking a [royal commission](/source/royal_commission) into the [Christchurch Civic Crèche abuse case](/source/Christchurch_Civic_Cr%C3%A8che_abuse_case).{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3509218 |title=Ellis supporters need new evidence says Goff |date=25 June 2003 |work=New Zealand Herald |access-date=22 January 2020}} ==Other activities== Strongman was a long-time television and film reviewer for ''[The Press](/source/The_Press)'' newspaper in Christchurch, from the 1980s until a few months before his death.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/9267702/Cleaning-out-clutter-can-be-almost-spiritual |title=Cleaning out clutter can be 'almost spiritual' |date=11 October 2013 |work=[The Press](/source/The_Press) |access-date=22 January 2020 |first=Ken |last=Strongman}}{{cite news |url=http://www.lonely.geek.nz/kiwi-tv/index.php/people-mainmenu-48/43-presenters/2677-grant-liz |title=Liz Grant |date=11 August 1984 |work=The Listener |access-date=22 January 2020 |first=Jacquelin |last=Steincamp |via=KiwiTV}}{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/115275916/book-review-the-paris-diversion-by-chris-pavone |title=Book review: The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone |date=31 August 2019 |work=Stuff.co.nz |access-date=22 January 2020 |first=Ken |last=Strongman}} In 2013, he began writing a fortnightly column on retirement and ageing for ''The Press'', titled ''Over the Hill''.{{cite news |url=http://deconstructions.blogspot.com/2013/07/over-hill.html |title=Over the hill |date=13 July 2013 |work=[The Press](/source/The_Press) |access-date=22 January 2020 |first=Ken |last=Strongman |via=Deconstructions}}{{cite web |url=https://cclblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/ken-strongman-word-christchurch-writers-and-readers-festival/ |title=Ken Strongman: WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival |date=19 August 2014 |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries |access-date=22 January 2020}} He also wrote several short stories. Strongman was a member of the [Film Censorship Board of Review](/source/Film_and_Literature_Board_of_Review) in New Zealand between 1984 and 1986. He also served as a member of the [Arts Centre of Christchurch](/source/Christchurch_Arts_Centre) Trust Board. ==Honours== Strongman was elected a Fellow of the [New Zealand Psychological Society](/source/New_Zealand_Psychological_Society) in 1982, and a [Fellow of the British Psychological Society](/source/British_Psychological_Society) in 1990. He was elected a [Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand](/source/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Society_of_New_Zealand) in 1994.{{cite web |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/who-we-are/our-people/our-fellows/all-fellows/s-u/ |title=List of all Fellows with surnames S–U |publisher=Royal Society Te Apārangi |access-date=21 January 2020}} ==Death== Strongman died at his home in Christchurch on 29 December 2019.{{cite news |url=https://deaths.press.co.nz/obituaries/the-press-nz/obituary.aspx?n=kenneth-strongman&pid=194865645 |title=Kenneth Strongman death notice |date=31 December 2019 |work=[The Press](/source/The_Press) |access-date=21 January 2020}} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{University of Exeter|state=collapsed}} {{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Biography}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Strongman, Ken}} Category:1940 births Category:2019 deaths Category:People from Ware, Hertfordshire Category:People educated at Dame Alice Owen's School Category:Alumni of University College London Category:English psychologists Category:21st-century British psychologists Category:20th-century British psychologists Category:Academics of the University of Exeter Category:English emigrants to New Zealand Category:21st-century New Zealand psychologists Category:Academic staff of the University of Canterbury Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand Category:Television critics Category:New Zealand literary critics Category:New Zealand columnists Category:New Zealand male short story writers Category:20th-century New Zealand psychologists --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ken Strongman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Strongman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Strongman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.