HANS JÜRGEN EYSENCK [1916 – 1997]

This Germany born British behavioral psychologist was best known for his theory on human personality. Much of his work has been psychometric research into the normal variation of human personality and intelligence. Endowed with talents in writing, boxing and tennis, he took up psychology by accident.

He also worked on the health hazards of smoking, the prophylactic effects of behavior therapy on cancer and coronary heart disease, parapsychology, astrology and various other subjects.

He wrote 100 books and some 1,200 articles, emerging as one of the most prolific writers in psychology. Race, Intelligence

and Education published in 1971 speaks of his highly controversial ideas. He also edited the three-volume Encyclopedia of Psychology in 1972.

His academic interests were personality and individual differences, intelligence, behavior therapy, behavioral genetics, the study of social attitudes and experimental aesthetics, some of which are discussed along with the brilliant psychologist’s life for us to take a leaf or two for self motivation and inspiration.