John J. Conger

John Janeway Conger (February 27, 1921 – June 24, 2006) was an American psychologist and a past president of the American Psychological Association (APA). He was the dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and he advised five U.S. presidents on psychology-related matters.

Biography Conger was born on February 27, 1921. He was educated at Amherst College and Yale University. He was the first psychologist in the country to become a medical school dean. He also became known for his research into adolescent personality and psychopathology.

In the 1950s, Conger wrote a textbook titled Child Development and Personality. Until his book was published, developmental psychology textbooks were usually organized by topic and not by developmental stage. Conger served as the child psychology expert on the Mental Health Commission established by President Carter, and Rosalynn Carter was said to have enjoyed conversations with him. He was vice president of the MacArthur Foundation. He was survived by his wife, who he had married on January 1, 1944.