--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The science of psychology has been far…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/abraham-maslow-2146_aspiration_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_811584.png" --- # The science of psychology has been far more successful on… ![“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... We must find…” quote by Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/abraham-maslow-2146_aspiration_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_811584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/abraham-maslow-2146_aspiration_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_811584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/abraham-maslow-2146_aspiration_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_811584.png) > “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... We must find out what psychology might be if it could free itself from the stultifying effects of limited, pessimistic and stingy preoccupations with human nature.” [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Psychology focuses on problems and deficits, neglecting strengths and well‑being, limiting its growth and usefulness. **In simple terms:** Psychology studies problems more than strengths. Key Takeaway Shift research to human potential. Themes psychology human potential well‑being Mood reflective optimistic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - education - organizational development - personal growth - public policy Key Concepts strengths positive psychology self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance studying deficits and strengths? - What benefits arise from a strengths‑based approach? 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It has revealed to us much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-2/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side; it has revealed to us much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-3/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [It looks as if there were a single ultimate goal for mankind, a far goal toward which all persons strive. 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Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-g-collingwood/) > [No refining of one's taste in matters of art or literature, no sharpening of one's powers of insight in matters of science or psychology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/no-refining-of-one-s-taste-in-matters-of-art-or-literature-no/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [Science and psychology have isolated the one prime cause for success or failure in life. It is the hidden self-image you have of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/science-and-psychology-have-isolated-the-one-prime-cause-for-success/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Like all science, psychology is knowledge; and like science again, it is knowledge of a definite thing, the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mark-baldwin/like-all-science-psychology-is-knowledge-and-like-science-again-it-is/) [James Mark Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mark-baldwin/) > [Magick, in it's own way, is a science of psychology because it uses the power of the mind to bring forth change in one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silver-ravenwolf/magick-in-it-s-own-way-is-a-science-of-psychology-because-it-uses-the/) [Silver RavenWolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silver-ravenwolf/) > [“Common human experience alone is no guarantee with which we can build a science of psychology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-kohler/common-human-experience-alone-is-no-guarantee-with-which-we-can-build/) [Wolfgang Köhler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-kohler/) > [The psycho-physiological hypothesis is both inductively and deductively the sine qua non of the science of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-psycho-physiological-hypothesis-is-both-inductively-and/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [“Is it an accident that astronomy is the oldest science and psychology is the youngest? 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We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/we-fear-our-highest-possibility-we-are-generally-afraid-to-become/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [...the great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-great-lesson-is-that-the-sacred-is-in-the-ordinary-that-it-is-to/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Dispassionate objectivity is itself a passion, for the real and for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/dispassionate-objectivity-is-itself-a-passion-for-the-real-and-for/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-ability-to-be-in-the-present-moment-is-a-major-component-of/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Plateau experiencing can be achieved, learned, earned by long hard work… A transient glimpse is certainly possible in the peak experiences which may, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/plateau-experiencing-can-be-achieved-learned-earned-by-long-hard-work/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [You must want to be first-class ...meaning the best, the very best you are capable of becoming. 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