Joan Freeman (British psychologist)

Freeman earned her BSc in psychology at Manchester University, followed by an advanced diploma in school counselling, an MEd in education and a PhD in educational psychology.

Freeman then taught at Preston Polytechnic / Lancaster University, where she was a senior lecturer. She then became a research associate at Manchester University and later, lecturer at the UCL Institute of Education.

In 2006 the College of Teachers, of which she was senior vice-president, awarded her an Honorary Fellowship.{{cite web |publisher=The College of Teachers |url-status=dead |archivedate=11 May 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511202816/http://www.collegeofteachers.ac.uk/awards/dr-joanfreeman |title=Honorary Fellow 2006 - Professor Joan Freeman |accessdate=17 September 2018 |url=http://www.collegeofteachers.ac.uk/awards/dr-joanfreeman |year=2012 |via=Wayback Machine}}{{free access}} In 2014, Mensa International awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award,{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818134444/http://www.mensafoundation.org/newsroom/press-releases/international-lifetime-achievement-award-winner-honored-by-the-mensa-foundation/ |url=http://www.mensafoundation.org/newsroom/press-releases/international-lifetime-achievement-award-winner-honored-by-the-mensa-foundation/ |archivedate=18 August 2017 |date=31 January 2015 |url-status=live |title=International Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Honored By the Mensa Foundation |accessdate=17 September 2018}} she was also awarded the First European Talent Networking Award,{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203160439/http://echa.info/16-first-european-talent-networking-award-to-all-four-former-presidents-of-echa |last=Surjasentana |url=http://www.echa.info/16-first-european-talent-networking-award-to-all-four-former-presidents-of-echa |title=First European Talent Networking Award to all four former presidents of ECHA |first=Jonas |date=16 May 2014 |url-status=live |publisher=European Council for High Ability |accessdate=17 September 2018 |archivedate=3 February 2017}} for the promotion of Europe-wide co-operation in support of young talented people. She was made an Honorary Patron of the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) in 2006.{{cite web |url-status=dead |year=2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220044523/http://www.nace.co.uk/patrons |publisher=National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) |url=http://www.nace.co.uk/patrons |archivedate=20 December 2014 |title=Patrons |accessdate=17 September 2018 }}

She has an elected fellowship with the British Psychological Society, where she has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007,{{cite web |title=Lifetime Achievement Award |url=http://www.bps.org.uk/what-we-do/bps/history-psychology-centre/history-society/society-award-winners/lifetime-achievement-awards/lifetime-achievement-awards |via=Wayback Machine |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910063435/http://www.bps.org.uk/what-we-do/bps/history-psychology-centre/history-society/society-award-winners/lifetime-achievement-awards/lifetime-achievement-awards |publisher=British Psychological Society |url-status=dead |year=2015 |archivedate=10 September 2015 |accessdate=17 September 2018}}{{free access}} she is also a Chartered (Licensed) Psychologist.

Freeman's ongoing aim is to inspire a scientific approach to the study and development of high-level potential, and to develop a dynamic communications network of knowledge and practice around the world.

Freeman's most significant research contribution to the field of child development has been her unique 35-year in-depth UK comparative study of 210 gifted and non-gifted children as they grew to adulthood.{{cite report |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818134415/http://www.icieworld.net/main1/images/stories/files/Conference%20Proceedings%202008.pdf |url-status=dead |url=http://www.icieworld.net/main1/images/stories/files/Conference%20Proceedings%202008.pdf |archivedate=18 August 2017 |title=Excellence in Educating |editor-first=Taisir Subhi |pages=27–34 |date=1 July 2008 |location=Paris, France |editor-last=Yamin |accessdate=17 September 2018}}{{free access}} This was funded by the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

This groundbreaking research showing the lives of the gifted and talented as normal people with special challenges helped to make positive changes in attitudes to the development of high level potential all over the world. The research was noted for its depth of investigation and scientific set-up, notably with double matched control groups.

Freeman was an advisor on the education of the gifted and talented for about eight years for the UK government and primary witness to the Standing Committee on the education of Highly Able Children.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000820231306/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmwib/wb981107/sel.htm |archivedate=20 August 2000 |url-status=live |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmwib/wb981107/sel.htm |title=Weekly Information Bulletin: 7th November 1998 - Select Committee Meetings 2 - 5 November |date=5 November 1998 |accessdate=17 September 2018 |work=House of Commons of the United Kingdom }} She founded and was President of the Tower Education Group, a think tank of UK experts which reported to the Education Development Trust.

In 1988 Freeman established the European Council for High Ability, bringing cooperation across the West and the Soviet zone. It became a Council of Europe Non-governmental organisation and is now a flourishing worldwide organisation of which she remains founding president and honorary member.[http://www.echa.info/honorary-members/90-joan-freeman-founding-president-1987-1992] It publishes the academic journal High Ability Studies, Taylor and Francis, of which she was editor-in-chief; she is now on their international advisory board. [http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=chas20] This publication is included in the Social Sciences Citation Index.

Freeman was later a visiting professor at Middlesex University, London and an executive of the European Council for High Ability's European talent support system. She was also a patron of the National Association for Able Children in Education.

From 2007, Freeman ran a private practice in central London for children with gifted potential. At the time it was the only psychology practice in the UK dedicated to this area of child development and attracted parents and children from around the world.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

Freeman was a long-serving member of the North West Arts Association in many capacities, including chair of the journal; a director of the Palace Theatre, Manchester; instigator and judge of the Cadbury's National Children's Poetry Exhibition and editorial advisor for its five books of children's poetry published by Arrow Books.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Freeman died on 2 July 2023, at the age of 88.{{cite news |title=Professor Joan Freeman – Obituary |url=https://potentialplusuk.org/index.php/2023/07/04/professor-joan-freeman-obituary/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |publisher=Potential Plus UK |date=4 July 2023}}{{cite news |title=Joan Freeman, PhD 1935–2023 |url=https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/joan-freeman-phd-1935-2023 |access-date=25 September 2024 |publisher=The British Psychological Society |date=8 January 2024}}

Freeman published 17 books for scholars and parents, including:

• {{cite book

|title=Human Biology and Hygiene – an O-level science text

|publisher=Pergamon

|date=1968

|pages=273

|isbn=978-0-0-80-03537-6

}}

• {{cite book

|title=In and Out of School

|publisher=Methuen

|date=1975

|pages=144

|isbn=978-0-4-16-83750-6

}}

• {{cite book

|title=The Psychology of Gifted Children: Perspectives on Development and Education

|publisher=Wiley

|date=26 August 1985

|pages=[https://archive.org/details/psychologyofgift0000unse/page/414 414]

|isbn=978-0-4-71-10255-7

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/psychologyofgift0000unse/page/414

}}

• {{cite book

|title=Educating the Very Able

|publisher=HMSO

|date=1988

|pages=67

|isbn=978-0-1-13-50100-7

}}

• {{cite book

|title=Gifted Children Growing Up

|publisher=Cassell

|date=1991

|pages=243

|isbn=978-0-3-04-32408-8

}}

• {{cite book

|title=Quality Basic Education: The development of competence

|publisher=UNESCO

|date=1992

|pages=256

|isbn=978-9-2-31-02788-8

}}

• {{cite book

|title=How to Raise a Bright Child

|publisher=Vermilion

|date=6 August 1996

|pages=190

|isbn=978-0-0-91-81391-8

}}

• {{cite book

|title=Bright as a Button: How to encourage your children's talents 0-5 years

|publisher=Optima

|date=1996

|pages=182

|isbn=978-0-3-56-19671-8

}}

• {{cite book

|title=Gifted Lives: What happens when gifted children grow up

|publisher=Routledge

|date=15 September 2010

|pages=312

|isbn=978-0-4-15-47009-4

}}

• 'Scientific thinking in gifted children' in P. Csermely & L. Lederman (Eds.) Science Education: Talent Recruitment and Public Understanding’ IOS Press with NATO Scientific Affairs Division: Amsterdam {{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226182647/http://www.joanfreeman.com/pdf/Scientific_thinking_NATO_Feb_02.pdf |title=Scientific Thinking In Gifted Children |first=Joan |last=Freeman |authorlink=Joan Freeman (British psychologist) |publisher=Middlesex University & NATO Science, Technology and Research Network |archivedate=26 December 2010 |accessdate=17 September 2018 |url=http://joanfreeman.com/pdf/Scientific_thinking_NATO_Feb_02.pdf |year=2003 |url-status=live |editor1-first=P. |editor1-last=Csermely |editor2-first=L. |editor2-last=Lederman |journal= }}
• 'Permission to be gifted: how perceptions of giftedness can change lives’, in R. Sternberg & J. Davidson, Conceptions of Giftedness, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 80–97.{{cite journal |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226182628/http://www.joanfreeman.com/pdf/JF_Permission_to_be_gifted_05.pdf |url-status=live |first=Joan |last=Freeman |editor1-last=Sternberg |url=http://www.joanfreeman.com:80/pdf/JF_Permission_to_be_gifted_05.pdf |title='Permission to be gifted: how conceptions of giftedness can change lives |editor-first1=R. |year=2005 |editor2-first=J. |editor2-last=Davidson |journal=Conceptions of Giftedness |publisher=Cambridge University Press |archivedate=26 December 2010 |pages=80–97 |doi=10.1017/CBO9780511610455.007 |isbn=9780521838412 |authorlink=Joan Freeman (British psychologist) |accessdate=17 September 2018 }}
• Intelligenz, Hochbegabung, Vorschulerziehung, Bildungsbenachteiligung. Published 2010 – in German
• Education of Gifted Children in Western Europe Publisher: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education. Published 2011 in Russian. {{ISSN|1814-2052}}
• Emotional Development of the Gifted and Talented. Published 2013 in Czech
• 'The long-term effects of families and educational provision on gifted children', Educational and Child Psychology, 30 (2), 7–17.{{cite web |url-status=live |accessdate=17 September 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818134038/http://meganmullaney.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/1/8/22184284/lteffectsoffamilies.pdf |first=Joan |last=Freeman |authorlink=Joan Freeman (British psychologist) |title=The long-term effects of families and educational provision on gifted children |url=http://meganmullaney.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/1/8/22184284/lteffectsoffamilies.pdf |year=2013 |archivedate=18 August 2017}} Published 2013
• Why some gifted children are notably more successful in life than others with equal ability and opportunities. Published in Spanish, Revista de Educación. April–June 2015

• Young Gifted and Likely to Suffer for It [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/09/gifted-children-joan-freeman-psychologist] The Guardian 9 October 2010
• Gifted lives: An Interview with Professor Joan Freeman [https://www.pef.uni-lj.si/fileadmin/Datoteke/CRSN/Zanimivosti/Gifted_lives_-_An_Interview_with_Professor_Joan_Freeman.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324162438/https://www.pef.uni-lj.si/fileadmin/Datoteke/CRSN/Zanimivosti/Gifted_lives_-_An_Interview_with_Professor_Joan_Freeman.pdf |date=24 March 2018 }} Horizons of Psychology 2011
• Child Genius {{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821202548/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/child-genius/articles/all/professor-joan-freeman/9 |date=15 July 2014 |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/child-genius/articles/all/professor-joan-freeman/9 |publisher=Channel 4 |title=Professor Joan Freeman |archivedate=21 August 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=20 July 2017 }}{{free access}}
• How do I know if my child is gifted or just smart?{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/gifted/how-do-i-know-if-my-child-is-gifted/ |work=Daily Telegraph |date=1 June 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607025815/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/gifted/how-do-i-know-if-my-child-is-gifted/ |title=How do I know if my child is gifted or just smart? |url-status=live |archivedate=7 June 2017 |first=Rachel |last=Tierney}}

Freeman's books and papers have accumulated hundreds of citations.{{cite web |url=https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=pGqZEhUAAAAJ&hl=en |publisher=Google Scholar |title=Joan Freeman |accessdate=17 September 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.joanfreeman.com}}

{{Lancaster University|state=collapsed}}

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Category:1935 births

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Category:British psychologists

Category:British women psychologists

Category:Academics of University College London

Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester

Category:Academics of Lancaster University

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