Adrian Furnham

Brief Biography

Adrian Frank Furnham was born in 1953 in Port Shepstone, Union of South Africa, in the province of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). Port Shepstone is a major South African Indian Ocean port about 70 miles south of Durban.

Furnham’s father was a newspaper owner, while his mother was a nurse.

Furnham was a curious child, who developed a strong interest in psychology as a teenager when he chanced to read a popular work on the subject by Hans Eysenck.

Many years later, he would get to know his idol, Eysenck, personally at Oxford, when the grand old man of modern psychology used to invite the young Furnham over to his office for tea.

Furnham has written that he loved school and wanted to postpone entering the world of work and adult responsibility for as long as possible, with the result that he holds no fewer than seven earned university degrees!

He obtained his first degree—a bachelor’s with honors, with a triple major in Divinity, History, and Psychology—in 1973 from the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg. Two years later, in 1975, he was awarded his first master’s degree, also from the University of Natal.

Furnham then left for Great Britain to further his higher education.

First, he took a master’s degree in social psychology in 1976 at the London School of Economics (LSE). The following year, in 1977, he earned a second master’s degree from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland.

In 1981, Furnham earned the first of his three doctorates—a D.Phil.—from Oxford University. His dissertation advisor was the distinguished social psychologist, Michael Argyle.

A decade later, in 1991, he obtained a second doctorate—a D.Sc.—from the University of London. Four years after that, in 1995, Furnham received his third and final earned doctorate—a D.Litt.—from the University of Natal.

In a teaching career spanning over 40 years, Furnham has taught at a wide variety of institutions of higher learning around the world, including Pembroke College, Oxford; the University of Exeter; Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur; the University of KwaZulu-Natal; the University of New South Wales, Australia; the University of the West Indies, Jamaica; and Hong Kong University Business School; among others.

Furnham currently holds the title of Professor in Psychology at University College, London, and the title of Adjunct Professor with the Institute of Leadership and Organisation at the BI Norwegian Business School—formerly, the Bedriftøkonomisk Institutt [Institute of Managerial Economics]—in Oslo.

Furnham has pursued research in many fields of personality and social psychology, but he is probably now best known for his more recent work on the psychology of economics and business management.

Furnham has been a major exponent of repairing the divisions that have grown up over the years between the fields of intelligence and personality psychology. Additionally, he is well known for developing, together with Dino Petrides, the Trait Emotional intelligence Questionnaire.

Furnham has been hugely prolific, having authored about 95 books—which altogether have been published in 40 languages—as well as more than 1,200 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. In addition, he has published some 1,500 book reviews, op-ed columns, and commentaries in many popular newspapers and magazines.

Notable Quotes

Note: The original sources of the following quotations attributed here to Adrian Furnham are provided where known. If no specific source is mentioned, then the attributed quotation may be assumed to derive from or (perhaps via paraphrase) be inspired by Furnham’s many academic and popular writings.

Adversity

Adversity is the forge where resilience is tempered, transforming hardship into strength.

The key to unlocking personal growth lies in embracing discomfort, for within challenges, we find our greatest opportunities.

Adversity reveals character; it is in the face of challenges that true strength and resilience are forged.

Adversity is not the end of the road but a detour leading to greater strength and resilience.

Adversity is not a stumbling block but a stepping stone to greater heights of achievement and self-awareness.

Change

Change is inevitable, but growth is optional. Embrace change and strive for personal and professional development.

Embrace change as an opportunity for growth, not as a threat to your comfort zone.

Change is the canvas upon which we paint our growth; embrace it, and watch your masterpiece unfold.

Change is inevitable, but growth is optional. It is our response to change that determines our destiny.

Embrace the discomfort of change, for within its crucible lies the transformative power to shape our destiny.

In the dance of change, those who embrace uncertainty find themselves waltzing towards new horizons of growth and fulfillment.

Communication

The key to effective communication is not just speaking, but also listening with an open mind and empathy.

Communication isn’t just about words; it’s about understanding, connection, and mutual respect.

Communication is the bridge that connects minds, hearts, and aspirations, fostering collaboration and unity.

Communication is not merely about speaking, but also about listening with an open heart and mind.

Communication is the currency of connection, fostering understanding, trust, and collaboration.

Consistency

In the pursuit of excellence, consistency is the cornerstone upon which greatness is built.

In the pursuit of excellence, consistency is the bridge between aspiration and achievement.

Consistency is the cornerstone of success, laying the foundation for habits that lead to greatness.

Creativity

If you have talented and motivated people, they should be encouraged to work alone when creativity or efficiency is the highest priority.

Employees

There is no such thing as a perfect employee; there are only those who are perfectly imperfect.

Experience

In the tapestry of life, every experience, whether good or bad, adds depth and richness to the fabric of our existence.

Failure

The most profound lessons in life often come from our failures; they are the stepping stones to success.

Furnham on Furnham

My work is pure joy. I feel I have control over who I am through my work. It is both my hobby and my passion; I will never tire of it.

I am happy to be a workaholic because I think work is fun.

I like to do things my way. I do not carry a mobile phone because I do not want to be enslaved by modern technology. I love riding my bicycle to work. Nothing stops me—not even the snow. It’s fast, cheap, and healthy.

I am sceptical about many things. I believe scepticism and doubt are healthy attitudes. Cynicism wrinkles the soul but scepticism is a healthy critical attitude that I advise my students to adopt. It is good to question things.

I wish I were younger; life is so short and there is so much to do.

I consider fear to be a healthy, adaptive reaction to dangerous situations. I detest rudeness, selfishness and blind ideologies.

I perceive confidence as a realistic appraisal of one’s ability and determination. It’s sad to see those who are able but who don’t believe in themselves and shocking to see the less able who have narcissistic self-belief.

I feel people must not overreact to work-related troubles because politics at work are inevitable. Gossip, power struggles and intrigue are part of the human condition. I acknowledge that people are social animals and that other people at work are a major source of both pain and pleasure.

I am passionate about my work and my family and know that kindness is reciprocated. The only real legacy you leave is how you have touched other people.

Human Behavior

The greatest challenge in understanding human behavior is realizing that it’s as complex as it is fascinating.

In the realm of human behavior, understanding the “why” is just as important as the “what” and “how.”

In the tapestry of human behavior, every thread of personality weaves a unique story of resilience and growth.

Leadership

Leadership is not just about being liked; it is about being respected, even feared.

The best leaders are those who inspire others to believe in themselves and achieve greatness.

In the realm of leadership, true effectiveness lies not in authority, but in influence.

Leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being authentic and inspiring others to be their best selves.

The art of leadership lies in balancing vision with execution, inspiration with pragmatism.

Leadership is not about commanding from the front but empowering from within, igniting the spark of greatness in others.

Leadership is not about the title one holds, but the integrity, vision, and inspiration one brings to those they lead.

The true measure of leadership is not found in authority, but in the ability to inspire and empower others to greatness.

Leadership is the art of guiding others not only towards a destination but also towards realizing their own potential.

Perception

In the workplace, perception is reality. It’s not just what you do; it’s how others perceive what you do.

Personality

Personality is to a man what perfume is to a flower.

In the dance of personality, every step reveals a facet of our being, shaping the rhythm of our lives.

Psychology of Money

One of the most neglected topics in the whole discipline of psychology, which prides itself in the definition of the science of human behaviour, is the psychology of money.

The Psychology of Money, with Michael Argyle (1998).

[Henry Clay] Lindgren . . . has pointed out that psychologists have not studied money-related behaviors as such because they assume that anything involving money lies within the domain of economics.

The Psychology of Money, with Michael Argyle (1998).

[The Philosophy of Money] examines how possessions and wealth affect self-image and esteem, why some people become misers and others gamblers, spendthrifts and tycoons, and why some people gain more pleasure from giving away money than from retaining it.

The Psychology of Money, with Michael Argyle (1998).

Resilience

A resilient mind sees setbacks as stepping stones toward success, not roadblocks to defeat.

Self-Awareness

The most powerful tool for personal growth is self-awareness; know yourself, and you can conquer anything.

The compass of self-discovery guides us through the labyrinth of life, revealing hidden truths and untapped potential.

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of personal development; it is only by knowing ourselves that we can truly grow.

Self-awareness is the compass that guides us through life’s journey, helping us navigate through challenges with clarity and purpose.

Social Interaction

In the garden of relationships, empathy is the soil from which trust and understanding bloom.

In the symphony of human interaction, empathy is the conductor that orchestrates harmony and understanding.

Success

Success comes to those who are prepared to take risks, learn from failure, and never give up.

The most successful people are not those who never fail, but those who never stop trying.

The only limit to your success is your imagination and willingness to work hard for it.

Success isn’t just about what you achieve; it’s also about who you become in the process.

Success is not a destination but a journey, fueled by passion, perseverance, and a willingness to learn.

Success is not a singular achievement but a symphony of perseverance, talent, and opportunity.

The tapestry of success is woven with threads of failure, each setback a stitch in the fabric of triumph.

The road to success is paved with perseverance, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Success is not measured by the heights we reach, but by the obstacles we overcome along the way.

Success is not a destination but a journey of continuous growth, fueled by passion and perseverance.

Success isn’t just about reaching the summit; it’s about the journey of self-discovery and continuous improvement.