Hans Eysenck in Latin America: his influence in the psychology, the study of personality and individual differences

Abstract

Hans Eysenck´s works have had a substantial influence on the study of psychology in Latin America. His personality characteristics (sometimes dogmatic and incisive) and high intelligence (shrewd critic, a rigorous methodologist)were noted in the few visits that hemade to the Latin America region (one of those visits called as "The Eysenck Affairs"). Considered as one of the most important scientists of psychology, Eysenck arrived into Latin American academic establishment in an epoch dominated by psychoanalysis, and showed us one of the strongest personality paradigms that the psychology has given to our times. The Latin-America psychology is returning to the investigation of personality traits from a psychometric approach. Certainly, underlying this returning, the Eysenck´s PEN model is the principal driver. This tribute shows how the Eysenck´s ideas arrived in the Latin American region and the potential of his influence in the future.