Hans Selye

Date of Birth: January 26, 1907

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: October 16, 1982

Biography

Hans Selye, born János Hugo Bruno “Hans” Selye, was a pioneering Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist best known for his research on the effects of stress on the human body. He was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, and grew up in Komárom, Hungary (now Komárno, Slovakia). Selye’s work laid the foundation for the study of stress and its physiological consequences, and he is often credited with popularizing the concept of stress in the scientific community. Selye earned his medical degree from the German University of Prague in 1929 and later completed a PhD in organic chemistry at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He held several academic positions, including his long tenure at the University of Montreal, where he conducted most of his groundbreaking research. Selye introduced the concept of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which describes the body’s short-term and long-term reactions to stress. His work has had a profound impact on various fields, including psychology, medicine, and sociology.

5 Interesting Facts about Hans Selye

1. Hans Selye published over 1,700 technical papers and 39 books on stress and related topics.

2. He coined the term “stress” in its biological context, differentiating it from its psychological usage.

3. Selye was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine multiple times but never won.

4. His work led to the development of the field of stress research, influencing both medical and psychological practices.

5. Selye was fluent in several languages, including Hungarian, German, French, and English.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hans Selye

1. “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

2. “It is not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”

3. “Man should not try to avoid stress any more than he would shun food, love, or exercise.”

4. “The only way to get rid of stress is to do nothing.”

5. “Every stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The specific net worth of Hans Selye is not well-documented, but his contributions to science have been invaluable and have left a lasting legacy in the field of stress research.