Psychology Inside A Generation Ship

Isaac Asimov's Hari Seldon has a psychohistorical Plan for the Galaxy which will result in a Second Galactic Empire ruled by psychohistorians. The psychologists in Poul Anderson's "The Troublemakers" have a plan for the generation ship, the Pioneer. The outcomes of this second plan will be that:

"'...the just and harmonious order of this voyage's beginnings will be restored.'" (p. 137)

"'...a satisfied and united humanity can begin making ready for the next great adventure.'" (p. 138)

Was all the socially engineered and manipulated conflict en route necessary to prepare the crew for the challenge of colonizing a planet? According to the psychologists, yes.

What is noticeable is that Anderson applies an Asimovian predictive science of society within a Heinleinian generation ship. He has already addressed the Asimovian theme of robots and the Heinleinian theme of longevity earlier in the Psychotechnic History. Anderson then proceeds to concepts transcending anything in either Asimov or Heinlein.