I was born in Gorizia, in the Italian north-east. As a teenager, I was shipped to Western Australia along with my parents, two brothers, and lots of other WW2 refugees. There, I worked as a labourer in a steel foundry, as a stonemason's assistant, and as a "grizzly-man" (a glorified powder monkey) in a gold mine. Then I learned to speak English (some would disagree), and won a scholarship.

Having completed a Ph.D. at the University of Western Australia, I spent three years in the U.S.A. as a Fulbright Scholar (Indiana University, University of Michigan, Princeton University). After a second stint at the University of Western Australia, this time as Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer, then Reader, I discovered Canada, and never looked back! I've been here since 1975, as Professor of Psychology at the University of Manitoba (1975-78), at the University of Alberta (1978-96), as Honorary Professor at UBC (1996-2004) and now as Adjunct Professor at SFU in Vancouver, where life is most enjoyable.

My research has been, and continues to be, generously supported by NSERC and, to a lesser extent, by other granting agencies. At SFU, my students and I collaborate extensively with several colleagues, notably John McDonald and Tom Spalek.