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Arnulf Kolstad
Arnulf Kolstad 2014.jpg
Arnulf Kolstad (2014)
Born (1942-04-23)23 April 1942
Died 21 May 2020(2020-05-21) (aged 78)
Nationality Norwegian
Occupation Professor emeritus of social psychology
Employer Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Arnulf Kolstad (born April 23, 1942 – died May 21, 2020) was a Norwegian expert in social psychology. This field studies how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. He was a very respected professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He became a professor emeritus, which means he retired but kept his title because of his important work.

Arnulf Kolstad's Life and Work

Arnulf Kolstad was born in Oslo, Norway. He was a very dedicated student and earned several advanced degrees. He first studied engineering, getting a higher degree in 1966 and a doctorate in 1973. Later, he earned a special doctorate in social psychology in 1984. This showed his wide range of interests and knowledge.

Early Career and Public Involvement

While he was a student in Trondheim, Arnulf Kolstad was the main editor for the student newspaper Under Dusken. He also got involved in local politics. He was a member of the Trondheim city council for the Socialist People's Party. This shows he cared about his community and wanted to make a difference.

Becoming a Professor

Kolstad started working at the University of Bergen in 1972. By 1976, he became an associate professor of social psychology there. He then worked at Aalborg University in Denmark from 1978. In 1986, the Norwegian government officially appointed him as a full professor at the University of Trondheim. This university later became part of NTNU. He also worked as a research director for the Research Council of Norway.

Areas of Expertise and Public Debates

Arnulf Kolstad was well-known across Norway. He often shared his opinions in public discussions about his areas of study. His main research focused on social psychology, which looks at how society affects individuals. He also studied cultural psychology, political psychology, and environmental psychology. He was interested in how our surroundings and beliefs shape our minds.

He also researched ecological psychology, which explores how people interact with their environment. Another important area for him was mental health. He wanted to understand how people's minds work and how to support their well-being.

Arnulf Kolstad was not afraid to share his views, even on big topics. For example, he had a different opinion about the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize being given to Liu Xiaobo. His comments led to many discussions in Norway and other countries.

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