Arthur Grimes: A Pioneer in Applied Subjective Wellbeing Research

ChildhoodI was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1957.My parents had emigrated from South Africa in 1948 after the Nationalist government was elected.Their participation in multi-racial socialist meant they had to emigrate or be arrested.Another branch of the family emigrated to England (subsequently becoming a base for future ANC leaders).My father retained his activism on anti-apartheid issues and on social and environmental policies throughout his life, influencing my own attitudes.The subsequent failure of the ANC government (following Nelson Mandela's inspiring leadership) was another influence on my attitudes: meritorious aims must be matched by tolerance and realism in policy choices if worthwhile progress is to be made.Many recent examples have strengthened that realisation.My mother (an accountant, who also had degrees in sociology, law and linguistics) was the family's main breadwinner.My father, with a Masters degree in anthropology, was a primary school teacher who loved looking after children.So my experience of gender roles was the reverse of the societal norm.From my father, I learned the importance of consideration for others; my mother demonstrated the importance of diligence for achieving goals.