“The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side… It has revealed to us much about man’s shortcomings, his illnesses, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, or his psychological health.”
- April 1, 1908 – June 8, 1970
- American
- Psychologist, Creator of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Humanistic Psychology Pioneer
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Quote
“The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side… It has revealed to us much about man’s shortcomings, his illnesses, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, or his psychological health.”
Explanation
In this quote, Abraham Maslow critiques the traditional focus of psychology, which, until the mid-20th century, was largely concerned with diagnosing and treating mental illness. He points out that while psychology has made great strides in understanding human dysfunction, it has neglected the study of human strength, creativity, virtue, and potential. This observation became a foundational idea in the development of humanistic psychology, which Maslow helped pioneer, and later positive psychology, which explicitly aims to explore well-being and optimal functioning.
Historically, psychological schools such as psychoanalysis and behaviorism concentrated on pathology—trauma, neuroses, phobias, and behavioral conditioning—leaving questions of meaning, fulfillment, and growth largely unexamined. Maslow, along with others like Carl Rogers, sought to shift the field’s focus toward what makes life worth living. He introduced the concept of self-actualization and argued for studying exceptional individuals to understand what humans can become, rather than merely what they suffer from.
Today, Maslow’s vision is echoed in fields that study resilience, well-being, and purpose, such as positive psychology. For example, modern research into gratitude, hope, and flow represents the very kinds of “virtues” and “achievable aspirations” that Maslow believed psychology had long overlooked. His quote continues to inspire a broader, more balanced view of the human condition—one that includes both shadows and possibilities.
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