Abraham Maslows Vision for a Psychology of the Peace Table

This article reconstructs Abraham Maslow’s post-Pearl Harbor commitment to develop a “Psychology for the Peace Table”—a tripartite framework comprising Humanistic, Transpersonal, and Eupsychian psychologies intended to scaffold the “good society” (Eupsychia) and render war obsolete. By tracing the historical marginalization of this project from institutional “murder” by behaviourist and cognitivist paradigms (situated within broader political-economic dynamics favoring non-threatening, adjustment-focused psychologies), the work advances a critical sociology of psychological knowledge production. It argues that the suppression of Maslow’s emancipatory vision—capable of reconceptualizing economics, education, and civic life toward species-level flourishing—was neither accidental nor intellectually justified, but rather a coordinated response to its threat to capitalist hegemony. Against today’s polycrisis, the piece issues a practical call to establish an ongoing Peace Table (initially online) where scholars and practitioners can collaboratively reconstruct Eupsychian Theory, integrate empirical and mystical insights, and prototype institutions oriented to connection, autonomy, and authentic human potential. This work extends research on the sociology of consciousness and the intersection of spirituality, social theory, and systemic transformation.

Key Points

• Reconstructs Maslow’s post-Pearl Harbor intellectual trajectory originating in the December 8, 1941 “Peace Table” vision, which redirected his work from dominance/motivation studies to creating a psychology for peace and human flourishing
• Documents Maslow’s founding of Humanistic Psychology (1961) and Transpersonal Psychology (1969), establishing theoretical foundations for a third branch: Eupsychian Psychology—a “Utopian” framework for building the “good society” capable of actuating full Human Potential
• Positions Maslow’s project as a Comprehensive Framework for social order comparable to Auguste Comte’s Religion of Humanity, aimed at reconceptualizing economics, education, religion, and social institutions through needs-based, growth-oriented theory
• Analyzes Maslow’s 1969 assessment that psychology had developed empirical “tools to judge and compare societies” based on growth-fostering potential and human fulfillment
• Provides sociological autopsy of the movement’s “murder” (per Elkins): systematic marginalization, defunding, and replacement by behaviorist/cognitive paradigms following Maslow’s 1970 death—characterized as intentional suppression by an Accumulating Class preserving exploitative status quo rather than natural theoretical obsolescence
• Issues urgent call to establish the Peace Table now—initially online—as a collaborative space for scholars/practitioners to reconstruct Eupsychian Theory using empirical, theoretical, and mystical insights
• Frames the project as necessary response to contemporary polycrisis, arguing that the window for manifesting Eupsychia remains open if the emancipatory, truth-seeking impulse of Humanistic Psychology is revived with “full, transformative intent”

Recommended citation: Sosteric, Mike. (2025). "Abraham Maslow's Vision for a Psychology of the Peace Table."
Download Paper