Abraham Maslow’s The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance examines science as a human activity shaped by psychological factors rather than as a purely objective and detached process. The book explores how scientists’ motivations, personality structures, values, and needs can influence the way scientific questions are chosen, investigated, and interpreted. Maslow emphasizes the role of creativity, intuition, and self-actualization in scientific discovery, suggesting that productive science is often linked to psychological health and growth-oriented motivation rather than deficiency-driven concerns such as status or security. He also reflects on the limitations of overly reductionist or mechanistic views of science, arguing that a fuller understanding of scientific practice must include subjective and experiential dimensions of the researcher. Overall, the work situates scientific activity within a broader humanistic framework that connects knowledge production with personal development and meaning-making.

Abraham H. Maslow

The Psychology of Science. A Reconnaissance