I completed my first degree at the University of Stellenbosch, followed by Honours and Master degrees from the University of the Orange Free State and my doctorate in Psychology from Unisa in 1980.
My first university appointment was at UOFS before relocating to the Australian National University in 1982. I have also taught at Charles Sturt University and the University of Wollongong (UOW), where I was Head of the School of Psychology for 10 years. I also served as Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences at UOW.
Most recently, I was at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) where I held the position of Dean of Research from 2012 to February 2017 and continued in a part-time capacity until my retirement in August 2018. I have held visiting appointments at University College, London, Rhodes University, and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.
I have published 6 academic books and more than 160 scientific papers and have won research funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian National Health & Medical Research Council.
I have taken up jogging since the Covid lockdowns, which surprises me no end as I hated running at school.
I married Leonora in 1973 and we have four children and nine grandchildren.