Abraham Maslow

Abraham Harold Maslow was a twentieth century psychologist who developed

a humanistic approach to psychology. He is best known for his hierarchy of needs. He
was born April 1, 190 in !rooklyn, "ew #ork. He was the first of seven children
born to his parents, who themselves were uneducated $ewish immigrants from %ussia.
His parents hoped for the best for their children in the new world and pushed him hard
for academic success. He became very lonely as a child and found his refuge in
books. &ventually, Maslow went on to study law at 'ity 'ollege of "ew #ork and
married his first(cousin !ertha )oodman. He later switched to the *niversity of
+isconsin where he developed an interest in psychology and found a mentor in
psychologist Harry Harlow who served as his doctoral advisor. Maslow earned all
three of his degrees in psychology from the *niversity of +isconsin a bachelor,s
degree in 19-0, a master,s degree in 19-1 and a doctorate in 19-.. )estalt
psychologist Ma/ +ertheimer and anthropologist %uth !enedict heavily influenced
him. Maslow believed that they were such e/ceptional people that he began to analy0e
and take notes on their behavior. 1his analysis served as the basis for his theories and
research on human potential. 2uring the 1930s, Maslow became one of the founders
and driving forces behind the school of thought known as humanistic psychology. His
theories including the hierarchy of needs, self(actuali0ation and peak e/periences
became fundamental sub4ects in the humanist movement. He spent his final years in
semi(retirement in 'alifornia, until, on $une , 1950, he died of a heart attack after
years of ill health.
Maslow wanted to understand what motivates people. He believed that
individuals possess a set of motivation systems unrelated to rewards or unconscious
desires. He stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. +hen one is
fulfilled a person seeks to fulfill the ne/t one, and so on. 1he earliest and most
widespread version of Maslow,s hierarchy of needs includes five motivational needs,
often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. 1he lowest levels of the
pyramid are made up of the most basic needs, while the more comple/ needs are
located at the top of the pyramid. "eeds at the bottom of the pyramid are basic
physical re6uirements including food, water, sleep, and warmth. 7nce these lower
level needs have been met, people can move on to the ne/t levels of needs, which are
fore safety and security. As people progress up the pyramid, needs become
increasingly psychological and social. 8oon, the need for love, friendship, and
intimacy become important. 9urther up the pyramid, the need for personal esteem and
feelings of accomplishment take priority. :ike 'arl %ogers, Maslow emphasi0ed the
importance of self(actuali0ation, which is a process of growing and developing as a
person in order to achieve individual potential.
Abraham Maslow believed that these needs are similar to instincts and play a
ma4or role in motivating behavior. ;hysiological, security, social, and esteem needs
are deficiency needs, also called 2(needs. 2eficiency needs are needs that arise due to
deprivation. 8atisfying these lower level needs is important in order to avoid
unpleasant feelings or conse6uences. He termed the highest level of the pyramid as
growth needs, also known as !(needs. )rowth needs do no stem from a lack of
something, but rather from a desire to grow as a person.
1here are five different levels in Maslow,s hierarchy of needs. 1he first level
is physiological needs. 1hese include the most basic needs that are vital to survival
such as air, water, food, and sleep. He believed that these needs are the most basic and
instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these
physiological needs are met. However, he stressed that a person can e/perience
periodic times of hunger or thirst and still move onto higher levels, but the
individual,s life cannot be dominated by 4ust one need. "e/t are the security needs,
which include needs for safety and security. 8ecurity needs are important for survival,
but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. &/amples of security needs
include a desire for steady employment, health care, safe neighborhoods, and shelter
form the environment. A person may e/perience feelings of solitude and emptiness if
these needs are not 6uenched. 1he third level is the social needs that include the need
for belonging, love, and affection. Maslow described these needs as less basic than
physiological and security needs. %elationships such as friendships, romantic
attachments, and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as
does involvement in social, community, or religious groups. 1hese are followed by
the esteem needs, which become increasingly important after the first three needs
have been satisfied. 1hese include the need for things that reflect on self(esteem,
personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment. 1he highest of Maslow,s
hierarchy of needs are the self(actuali0ing needs. 8elf(actuali0ing people are self(
aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others,
and interested fulfilling their potential. A person who reaches this stage strives for
growth and self(improvement. 8elf(actuali0ed people are 4oyful, empathetic, and
giving. He argues that they are driven by metamotivation, rather than seeking
fulfillment of basic needs, they are driven to fulfill their full potential. "onetheless, he
emphasi0ed that there are truly no perfect human beings, including those who had
reached self(actuali0ation.
At a time when most psychologists focused aspects of human natured that
were considered abnormal, Abraham Maslow shifted to focus to look at the positive
sides of mental health. His interest in human potential, seeking peak e/periences and
improving mental health by seeking personal growth had a lasting influence on
psychology. +hile his work fell out of favor with many academic psychologists, his
theories are en4oying resurgence due to the rising interest in positive psychology.