Education
While imprisoned, Cooper completed his undergraduate degree in psychology via a correspondence course with the University of South Africa.
While imprisoned, Cooper completed his undergraduate degree in psychology via a correspondence course with the University of South Africa.
He began to identify with the Black Consciousness movement and was arrested as a student in 1976 for organizing anti-Apartheid rallies. During this time Saths spent nine years banned, house arrested and jailed, including over five years in Robben Island where he shared a cell block with Nelson Mandela. Released in 1982 Cooper went on to study at the University of the Witwatersrand completing his Doctor of Philosophy as a Fulbright scholar at Boston University.
He was four times elected President of the Psychological Society of South Africa, and was Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of The University of Durban-Westville (prior to its merger).
He served as President of the International Congress of Psychology which was held in 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa. At the congress, Cooper was elected the first African President of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), a kind of United Nations for 90 national psychology organizations and over 20 regional organizations.
His many honors include the following:
Fellow of the British Psychological Society (2014). American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology (2014).
Medal for Services to International Psychology from International Union of Psychological Science (2008).
Fellow of the National Academy of Psychology (India) (2007). Fellow of the Psychological Society of South Africa (2002). Fellow of the Irish Psychological Society.