Person-Centered Studies in Psychology of Science

Lisa M. Osbeck is Professor of Psychology at the University of West Georgia, Fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a past-president of the Society for General Psychology (APA Division 1).Stephen L. Antczak’s academic publishing credits feature in the publications Qualitative Psychology, the Journal of Constructivist Psychology, and the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology. Areas of interest include the communication of knowledge in science teams and the subjective experiences of working scientists.

"Person-Centered Studies in Psychology of Science maintains that various psychological features of individual scientists are indispensable for a thoroughgoing understanding of science itself. 'Case studies' of prominent historically-and-disciplinarily diverse scientists vividly illustrate this indisputable-yet-overlooked fact. Taken as a whole, the book provides a missing link in contemporary science studies: How appreciating the personal, cognitive, and social dimensions of scientists themselves sheds new light on their well-known contributions to knowledge about the world and ourselves. Students and educators will find much to discuss in these pages, written by authors who focus their psychological lenses on the workings of science at the level of scientists themselves."Barbara S. Held, Barry Wish Professor of Psychology and Social Studies Emerita, Bowdoin College, USA"In this fascinating, provocative set of explorations of the lives of particular scientists, the authors shed new light on the psychology of science and on the nature of science itself."Alan Tjeltveit, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Muhlenberg College, USA"I recommend this gem of a book to a very broad audience. More than pedagogical, it is a ground-breaking contribution to the psychology of science and to qualitative, person-centered psychology. A welcome addition to undergraduate and graduate curricula that will attract and edify students at all levels, this fascinating collection will also interest the lay public. Its engaging style and substance will be enjoyed by readers as their understanding of both science and psychology are challenged and enhanced."Frederick J. Wertz, Professor Emeritus, Fordham University, USA

• Introduction: Person-centered Studies in Psychology of Science 1. Johannes Kepler – A Pragmaticist Priest of God at the Book of Nature 2. Goethe: A Person of Science 3. The Process of Mendeleev’s Discovery: A Multidimensional, Relational Perspective 4. Henri Poincaré: The Poet of Mathematics and Physics 5. When the Mind Cannot be Trusted: The Lonely Genius of John Nash Jr. 6. An Interpretation of Franz Boas’ Contributions to Anthropology and Scientific Anti-Racism: Merging a Psychology of Science with Anthropology and Feminist Theory to Discuss the Human Influence in Science 7. Rachel Carson: A Scientist of Life Itself 8. Science in the Mists: Dian Fossey 9. Commentary