I graduated  B.A. (Hons) in Psychology from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1968; MSc in Mathematical Psychology from University of Stirling in 1969; PhD in Psychology from Keele University in 1974. I held tenured posts in South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education (now Cardiff Metropolitan University) from 1972 to 1983; Lancashire Polytechnic (now University of Central Lancashire) from 1983 to 1990; Cardiff University from 1990 to 2006; University of East Anglia from 2006 to 2009.

In Cardiff University I was a member of the School of Education and following  a merger with the School of Social and Administrative Studies in 1999, the School of Social Sciences. I was appointed as Lecturer in Psychology and Child Development in September 1990, promoted to Senior Lecturer in September 1994, to Reader in September 1998 and to Professor in September 2003. In August 2006 I moved to the University of East Anglia as Professor of Psychology and Director of the undergraduate programme in Psychosocial Sciences in the School of Social Work and Psychosocial Sciences. Since retirement from this post in January 2009 I was Non-Stipendiary Visiting Fellow in the School of Social Work and Psychology, University of East Anglia from 2009 to 2011 and I have been Honorary Professor in the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University from 2010 to the present time.

I have been a member of the British Psychological Society since 1975. In 1980 I was elected an Associate Fellow and in 1997 elected a Fellow of the Society. In 1990 I was awarded Chartered Psychologist status.