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The 20 best sentences of Hans Eysenck

The 20 best sentences of Hans Eysenck

April 25, 2024

One of the most important and influential psychologists in the subject of personality is Hans Eysenck, a scientist of German origin that when he came of age he moved to the United Kingdom, where he became known and became an admired researcher.

Your personality theory , which is called the PEN model, is still studied today in psychology courses.

  • Related article: "Eysenck's Theory of Personality: the PEN model"

Phrases of Hans Eysenck

Admired by some and criticized by others, this researcher has left many quotes for the story; In this article you can find a compilation of the best sentences of Hans Eysenck . You can find them below.


1. The three types or superfactors are sufficient to describe the personality in an appropriate way, since from these predictions can be made at a physiological, psychological and social level.

The three superfactors Eysenck refers to are: Neuroticism (N), Extraversion (E) and Psychoticism (P). The author understands that, by combining with each other, they explain the human personality.

2. The social problems that arise arise from the facts, not from the investigations of these facts

Social psychology only makes sense in the environment in which events occur.

3. Psychotherapy is the prostitution of friendship

Friendship and psychotherapy do not go hand in hand, since the psychologist would stop being objective .


4. What is new in your theories is not true, and what is true in your theories is not new

A play on words in which the author makes it clear that he did not agree with the ideas of Sigmund Freud.

5. Personality is determined largely by genes

At the beginning, Eysenk I thought that inheritance was everything in the personality , but later it became less radical.

6. There seems to be a negative correlation between recovery and psychotherapy; the more psychotherapy, the lower the rate of recovery

Too much psychotherapy is not more effective than less psychotherapy but of higher quality.

7. Marx's influence has been quite similar to that of Freud, not only because he based all his beliefs on interpretations, and discarded direct evidence, but also because very few of the people who now claim to maintain their views have bothered read their original contributions or look at those who criticize them

Eysenck also disagreed with Marx's ideas, since he is an author with a large sociological base.


  • Related article: "Karl Marx: biography of this philosopher and sociologist"

8. Science, in the end, is dynamite: there are signs that the effects of the industrial revolution may be small along with those of the psychological revolution

Eysenck, as a psychologist, made it clear with this phrase that understanding the human mind is the most powerful.

9. Sigmund Freud was, without a doubt, a genius; not of science, but of propaganda; not of rigorous proof, but of persuasion

Again, a phrase that makes clear that Eysenck he openly criticized Freudian ideas .

10. It is the more or less stable and lasting organization of the character, temperament, intellect and physical of a person, which determines its unique adaptation to the environment

Eysenck making clear the relationship that exists between character and adaptation to the environment.

11. Tactics and diplomacy are good in international and political relations, perhaps even in business; in science only the facts

The facts are what should explain the scientific conclusions.

12. If the truth contradicts deeply held beliefs, something is wrong

An appointment that invites us to deep reflection about the relationship between truth and our beliefs .

13. Extraverts are characterized by sociability, impulsiveness, disinhibition, vitality, optimism and sharpness of wit

Extraversion is one of the features that are part of Eysenck's PEN model.

14. As for the followers of Freud, they have created a "climate of opinion", which deviates markedly from what Freud would have approved. However, Freud himself can not be completely absolved of the guilt

Eysenck thought that what has made Freud famous is the extravagant ideas of his theory.

15. I always felt that a scientist owes the world only one thing, which is the truth as he sees it

To a greater or lesser extent, our opinion can influence scientific conclusions . That is why we must minimize this problem by making it clear where the facts end and where the opinions begin.

16. The current Marxists tend to have views exactly opposite to those of Marx and Lenin, as in the question of the inheritance of intelligence

Another criticism of Marxist theory and socialism.

17It would be very peculiar if a very general mental capacity that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, understand complexities, learn quickly and benefit from experience, would not have very important implications

Another of Eysenck's phrases that basically deal with the intelligence and adaptability of human beings.

18. Both Marx and Lenin were quite explicit about their belief that "equality", as essentially an idea of ​​socialism, meant social equality, not biological equality, and emphasized that it was impossible to achieve it.

Eysenck criticizes Marx again, and talks about the difference between social and biological equality .

19. There is nothing more terrible than ignorance in action. To believe a thing on the basis of insufficient evidence is always a mistake, everywhere be concerned. People who believe in absurdities will commit atrocities

Many times we can believe certain things if we have not even proven their authenticity.

20. What is read in the newspapers, is heard on the radio and is seen on television, it is not even the truth seen by the experts; It is the desire of journalists, seen through filters of prejudice and ignorance

Journalists are often influenced by their own opinions.


Measuring Personality: Crash Course Psychology #22 (April 2024).


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