Adrian Furnham
Encyclopedia
Adrian Furnham is a South African-born British organisational and applied psychologist, management expert and Professor of Psychology at University College London
. In addition to his academic roles, he is a consultant on organizational behaviour and management, writer and broadcaster.
, Oxford, and served in this capacity until 1982. He was also made a part-time tutor in psychology in the Department of External Studies, teaching management science and psychology to groups of middle and senior managers and administrators.
. In 1981, he was made a lecturer (1981–1987) and reader in 1988 (1988–1992). On 1 October 1992, he was appointed Professor in Psychology (ad hominem), and holding this position, he continues to teach applied / occupational psychology, as well as personality and social psychology to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
, He also wrote pieces in newspapers (Financial Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Times Higher Educational Supplement, Sunday Times). He has also contributed to several magazines (Spectator, Personnel Management, New Scientist, Across the Board, Spotlight) in both Europe and North America. He has been a columnist in various management magazines (Mastering Management, Human Resources). Additionally he is the author of 650 scientific papers
, where he was to receive his primary, secondary and initial tertiary education. He attended Scottsville Primary School and then went on to Alexanrda High School.
In 1970, Furnham was accepted as a student at the University of Natal
(Pietermaritzburg
campus). He graduated in 1972 with a B.A. degree, and the following year with B. A. honours, obtaining a distinction in psychology. In 1975 he was accepted as a masters student at the University of London
and completed his Master of Science in 1976, obtaining a distinction in Economics. He completed another M. Sc. Degree at the University of Strathclyde
and was then accepted as a doctoral student at the University of Oxford. He completed his D. Phil. degree there in 1981. Furnham later completed another two doctoral degrees, a D. Sc. at the University of London
in 1991 and a D. Litt. at University of Natal
in 1995.
During his studies at Oxford, he met Allison Green, a psychologist known for her work on memory. They married during 1990, and later had a son, Benedict.
In 1985, Furnham founded a management consultancy called Applied Behavioural Research Associates, and became its first director. This specialised in research on corporate evaluation and design, performance appraisal, personnel and corporate assessment and selection, and literature reviews. Clients have included the Foreign Office, BT
, TWA
, Lloyds Bank
, Cathay Pacific Airways, Channel Four, Abbey Life
, Boots
, Hambros Bank
, Ritz Hotel
, British Rail
, Air New Zealand
, Hong Kong Jockey Club
, Marks and Spencer, Careers Research Forum and Barclays Bank.
Furnham was recognized as a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Chartered Health Psychologist, by the British Psychological Society
, of which he became a Fellow in 1988. He is also one of 154,000 psychologists to belong to the well-known American Psychological Association
.
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In addition to his academic roles, he is a consultant on organizational behaviour and management, writer and broadcaster.
Oxford University, 1979-1990
In 1979, Furnham was appointed as a Lecturer in Psychology at Pembroke CollegePembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, Oxford, and served in this capacity until 1982. He was also made a part-time tutor in psychology in the Department of External Studies, teaching management science and psychology to groups of middle and senior managers and administrators.
University College London 1979 – present
From 1979, Furnham became a postgraduate study supervisor at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1981, he was made a lecturer (1981–1987) and reader in 1988 (1988–1992). On 1 October 1992, he was appointed Professor in Psychology (ad hominem), and holding this position, he continues to teach applied / occupational psychology, as well as personality and social psychology to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Other organizations
Furnham was a vising professor to the University of Hong Kong business school, (1995–1997) and a visiting professor to the Henley Management College (1999–2001).Publications (1985 to the present)
As of 2009, he has written over 700 scientific papers and 60 books including The Protestant Work Ethic (1990) Culture Shock (1994), The New Economic Mind (1995), Personality at Work (1994), The Myths of Management (1996), The Psychology of Behaviour at Work (1997), The Psychology of Money (1998), The Psychology of Culture Shock (2001)The Incompetent Manager (2003), The Dark Side of Behaviour at Work (2004), The People Business (2005) Personality and Intellectual Competence (2005) Management Mumbo-Jumbo (2006) Head and Heart Management (2007) The Psychology of Physical Attraction (2007) The Body Beautiful (2007) Personality and Intelligence at Work (2008) Management Intelligence (2008) Dim Sum Management (2008) The Economic Socialisation of Children (2008) 50 Psychology Ideas you really need to know (2009) The Elephant in the Boardroom: The Psychology of Leadership Derailment (2009) People Management in Turbulent Times (2009) The Psychology of Personnel Selection (2010) Body Language in Business (2010), He also wrote pieces in newspapers (Financial Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Times Higher Educational Supplement, Sunday Times). He has also contributed to several magazines (Spectator, Personnel Management, New Scientist, Across the Board, Spotlight) in both Europe and North America. He has been a columnist in various management magazines (Mastering Management, Human Resources). Additionally he is the author of 650 scientific papers
Personal life and education
Furnham was born in Port Shepstone, South Africa of British parents. In 1959 the family moved to the capital, PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, where he was to receive his primary, secondary and initial tertiary education. He attended Scottsville Primary School and then went on to Alexanrda High School.
In 1970, Furnham was accepted as a student at the University of Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
(Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
campus). He graduated in 1972 with a B.A. degree, and the following year with B. A. honours, obtaining a distinction in psychology. In 1975 he was accepted as a masters student at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and completed his Master of Science in 1976, obtaining a distinction in Economics. He completed another M. Sc. Degree at the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
and was then accepted as a doctoral student at the University of Oxford. He completed his D. Phil. degree there in 1981. Furnham later completed another two doctoral degrees, a D. Sc. at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1991 and a D. Litt. at University of Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
in 1995.
During his studies at Oxford, he met Allison Green, a psychologist known for her work on memory. They married during 1990, and later had a son, Benedict.
In 1985, Furnham founded a management consultancy called Applied Behavioural Research Associates, and became its first director. This specialised in research on corporate evaluation and design, performance appraisal, personnel and corporate assessment and selection, and literature reviews. Clients have included the Foreign Office, BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
, TWA
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
, Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
, Cathay Pacific Airways, Channel Four, Abbey Life
Abbey Life
Abbey Life plc was a leading life assurance business based in London also with an office in Bournemouth. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, Boots
Boots UK
Boots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
, Hambros Bank
Hambros Bank
Hambros Bank was a British bank based in London. The Hambros bank was a specialist in Anglo-Scandinavian business with expertise in trade finance and investment banking, and was the sole banker to the Scandinavian kingdoms for many years...
, Ritz Hotel
Ritz Hotel
The Ritz London is a luxury 5-star hotel located in Piccadilly and overlooking Green Park in London.- History :Swiss hotelier César Ritz, former manager of the Savoy Hotel, opened the hotel on 24 May 1906...
, British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
, Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing. It was granted Royal Charter and renamed to "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" in 1959...
, Marks and Spencer, Careers Research Forum and Barclays Bank.
Furnham was recognized as a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Chartered Health Psychologist, by the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
, of which he became a Fellow in 1988. He is also one of 154,000 psychologists to belong to the well-known American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
.