Join Tom and Stuart in this paid-only episode as they unravel the shocking tale of Hans Eysenck and his questionable studies. Explore the controversial link between negative thoughts and cancer risk, learn about Eysenck's career, and delve into the debate around his work on IQ and personality differences.
Hans Eysenck's controversial career raises questions about the validity of his research findings in psychology.
Anthony Pelosi's impactful article reignited discussions on the controversies surrounding Hans Eysenck's work, ensuring its continued relevance and scrutiny.
Deep dives
Introduction of Hans Isink and his research
Hans Isink, a German psychologist, escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s and moved to the UK, where he became a prominent figure in psychology. He worked as a professor at the Institute of Psychiatry in London until his retirement in the 1980s. Isink was known for his research in differential psychology, focusing on differences between individuals in IQ and personality. He was considered one of the most cited psychologists during his lifetime. His lab at the Institute of Psychiatry was even recreated in the Science Museum. However, Isink's career was not without controversies, as he frequently challenged established theories and engaged in research on controversial topics like parapsychology and group differences in IQ.
Posthumous controversy surrounding Hans Isink
Recently, there has been a resurgence of controversy surrounding Hans Isink, highlighted by a viral tweet claiming he was canceled by the 'woke mob.' This tweet prompted further discussion and raised questions about the validity of Isink's research findings. The controversies around Isink's work and the relevance of his contributions to fields like personality psychology and psychotherapy will be explored in this episode. Listeners are encouraged to consider whether the claims of a posthumous cancellation by the 'woke mob' hold any truth and to delve into the details of this story that has garnered attention in recent times.
The role of Anthony Pelosi in keeping the story alive
Anthony Pelosi, a psychiatrist based in Glasgow, has played a pivotal role in keeping the controversy surrounding Isink's work alive. Pelosi wrote an impactful article in 2019 titled 'Revisiting a Scientific Scandal,' which extensively covers the subject. His efforts have ensured that the story of Isink's work, its criticisms, and the subsequent discussions and controversies did not fade away. Readers are encouraged to read Pelosi's article for a more comprehensive understanding of the topic and to appreciate his dedication to keeping this story in the public consciousness.
Hans Eysenck was one of the biggest names in psychology. Was he also a scientific fraudster? Long after his death, allegations resurfaced about his late-career studies, which either contained some of the most impressive findings in medical history, were a terrible mistake… or were the result of something much more sinister.
In this paid-only episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart tell the shocking—and often darkly amusing—tale of Hans Eysenck and his enigmatic collaborator, Ronald Grossarth-Maticek. If you’ve enjoyed the recent episodes on personality, on psychotherapy, and on scientific fraud, how about a story that combines them all into one totally disastrous indictment of the way we do science?
To listen to the full version of this episode and see the show notes, you’ll need to be a paid subscriber to The Studies Show podcast on Substack. Go to www.thestudiesshowpod.com/subscribe to see the options. If you’re already a paid subscriber: thank you! Hope you enjoy the episode.
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