Abraham Maslow

[Ready for Fall 2026]

Modified: 2026-08-03 8:58 PM CDST

• Maslow was one of the most influential of the humanistic personality theorists.
  • Ironically, his early history would not have predicted that, because Maslow was influenced by Watson, trained by Harlow, and a colleague of Thorndike's.
  • The birth of Maslow's first child radically disabused him of behaviorist theories.
  • Then, he began to frequent Adler's weekly home seminars.
  • Also in attendance were Fromm and Horney.
  • The intimate contact with such high-powered thinkers led him to formulate his notions of self actualization.

• He created, with Rogers and others, a "third-force" in psychology, humanistic psychology.
  • As Maslow saw it, a humanistic psychologist:

1. Had no use for animal research
2. Believed that subjective reality is the key to personality
3. Promoted the study of individuals, not groups
4. Discovered things that enriched human experience
5. Conducted applied research to alleviate human problems
6. Believed that a complete description of humans required more than science

• In addition, Maslow's hierarchy of needs (see main Personality page) served as a blueprint for research.
  • Higher order needs are of more interest than the lower order ones.
  • Also, the characteristics of those rare self-actualized people was of much research interest.
  • Together, Maslow and Rogers created the humanist paradigm, almost entirely by themselves.