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Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory295
expressive behavior. Self-actualizing people donotlovebecause theyexpect some -
thing inreturn. They simply loveandareloved. Their loveisnever harmful. Itisthe
kindoflovethatallows lovers toberelaxed, open, andnonsecretive (Maslow, 1970).
Because self-actualizers arecapable ofadeeper leveloflove,Maslow (1970) 
believed thatsexbetween twoB-lovers often becomes akindofmystical experience. 
Although theyarelustypeople, fullyenjoying sex,food, andother sensuous pleasures, 
self-actualizers arenotdominated bysex.They canmore easily tolerate theabsence of
sex(aswellasother basic needs), because theyhavenodeficiency need forit.Sexual 
activity between B-lovers isnotalways aheightened emotional experience; sometimes 
itistaken quite lightly inthespirit ofplayfulness andhumor. Butthisapproach is
tobeexpected, because playfulness andhumor areB-values, andlikeother B-values, 
theyareanimportant partofaself-actualizer’s life.
Maslow’s Psychology and Philosophy of Science 
Maslow’s philosophy ofscience andhisresearch methods areintegral toan
understanding ofhowhearrived athisconcept ofself-actualization. Maslow (1966) 
believed thatvalue-free science doesnotleadtotheproper study ofhuman person -
ality. Maslow argued foradifferent philosophy ofscience, ahumanistic, holistic 
approach thatisnotvalue freeandthathasscientists whocareabout thepeople 
andtopics theyinvestigate. Forexample, Maslow wasmotivated tosearch forself-
actualizing people because heidolized andgreatly admired MaxWertheimer and
Ruth Benedict, histwooriginal models forself-actualization. Buthealsoexpressed 
affection andadmiration forAbraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, andother 
self-actualizing people (Maslow, 1968a).
Maslow agreed withAllport (seeChapter 12)thatpsychological science should 
place more emphasis onthestudy oftheindividual andlessonthestudy oflarge 
groups. Subjective reports should befavored overrigidly objective ones, andpeople 
should beallowed totellabout themselves inaholistic fashion instead ofthemore 
orthodox approach thatstudies people inbitsandpieces. Traditional psychology has
dealt withsensations, intelligence, attitudes, stimuli, reflexes, testscores, andhypo -
thetical constructs from anexternal point ofview. Ithasnotbeen much concerned 
withthewhole person asseenfrom thatperson’s subjective view.
When Maslow attended medical school, hewasshocked bytheimpersonal atti-
tudeofsurgeons whononchalantly tossed recently removed body parts ontoatable. 
Hisobservation ofsuchacoldandcalloused procedure ledMaslow tooriginate the
concept ofdesacralization: thatis,thetypeofscience thatlacks emotion, joy,won-
der,awe,andrapture (Hoffman, 1988). Maslow believed thatorthodox science has
noritual orceremony, andhecalled forscientists toputvalues, creativity, emotion, 
andritual backintotheirwork. Scientists must bewilling toresacralize science orto
instill itwithhuman values, emotion, andritual. Astronomers must notonlystudy 
thestars; theymust beawestruck bythem. Psychologists must notonlystudy human 
personality; theymust dosowithenjoyment, excitement, wonder, andaffection.
Maslow (1966) argued foraTaoistic attitude forpsychology, onethatwould 
benoninterfering, passive, andreceptive. Thisnewpsychology would abolish pre-
diction andcontrol asthemajor goals ofscience andreplace them withsheer fas-
cination andthedesire torelease people from controls sothattheycangrow andFinal PDF to printer