Abraham Maslow

Becoming Self-ActualizedBecoming Self-Actualized

I. Biography Growing up a Jewish boy in a predominantly non-Jewish Growing up a Jewish boy in a predominantly non-Jewish

neighborhood, Maslow sought solace in the library neighborhood, Maslow sought solace in the library reading.reading.

Maslow, urged by his parents (Russian immigrants), Maslow, urged by his parents (Russian immigrants), enrolled in law school in CUNY. However, he found it enrolled in law school in CUNY. However, he found it dull & dropped out during the 1dull & dropped out during the 1stst year. year.

He attended Cornell & then the University of Wisconsin to He attended Cornell & then the University of Wisconsin to study psychology (finished doctorate at UW). study psychology (finished doctorate at UW).

Initially drawn to psychology due to behaviorism, his Initially drawn to psychology due to behaviorism, his interest in that particular field of psychology diminished.interest in that particular field of psychology diminished.

Biography (contd.) Maslow worked with Harry Harlow at Wisconsin.Maslow worked with Harry Harlow at Wisconsin.

After graduation Maslow went to Columbia U. to work with After graduation Maslow went to Columbia U. to work with E. L. Thorndike. E. L. Thorndike.

The birth of his daughter was a peak experience for Maslow, The birth of his daughter was a peak experience for Maslow, who decided behaviorism wasn’t for him. who decided behaviorism wasn’t for him.

Maslow taught at Brooklyn College for 14 yrs, where he Maslow taught at Brooklyn College for 14 yrs, where he came into contact with Neofreudians (Horney, Fromm, & came into contact with Neofreudians (Horney, Fromm, & Adler) & Max Wertheimer, a founder of Gestalt psychology. Adler) & Max Wertheimer, a founder of Gestalt psychology.

He moved to Brandeis U. until his death in 1970.He moved to Brandeis U. until his death in 1970.

II. Motivation & Hierarchy of Needs Maslow was interested in what motivates us.Maslow was interested in what motivates us.

He looked at the kinds of issues people worry about now He looked at the kinds of issues people worry about now (relationships with others, being happy in one’s career & (relationships with others, being happy in one’s career & life, living up to one’s potential) & in the 30’s during the life, living up to one’s potential) & in the 30’s during the Great Depression when people were literally starving to Great Depression when people were literally starving to death in the streets.death in the streets.

It struck him that there are two types of motives that It struck him that there are two types of motives that guide our behavior: guide our behavior: Deficiency motives & growth Deficiency motives & growth needs.needs.

A. Deficiency motive (needs) This results from a lack of some needed object.This results from a lack of some needed object.

Needs like hunger, thirst, & the need for respect Needs like hunger, thirst, & the need for respect from others fall into this category.from others fall into this category.

These are satisfied once the needed object is These are satisfied once the needed object is obtained. obtained.

B. Growth needs Unlike deficiency needs, these needs are not satisfied once Unlike deficiency needs, these needs are not satisfied once

the target object has been found. the target object has been found.

Rather, the satisfaction comes from the growth that Rather, the satisfaction comes from the growth that provides the expression of this motive.provides the expression of this motive.

Examples of growth needs include: the unselfish giving Examples of growth needs include: the unselfish giving of love to others & the development of potential as a of love to others & the development of potential as a human being. human being. The process is as important if not more than The process is as important if not more than the outcomethe outcome..

Motto: Motto: “Strive to be the best person you can be!!!”“Strive to be the best person you can be!!!”

III. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow argued that human motives can be placed in a Maslow argued that human motives can be placed in a

hierarchy of prominence.hierarchy of prominence.

Some needs demand satisfaction before others can be Some needs demand satisfaction before others can be met. met.

Usually, we satisfy the needs at the lower levels before Usually, we satisfy the needs at the lower levels before becoming concerned with the needs at the higher levels. becoming concerned with the needs at the higher levels.

(e.g., if you are hungry, your behavior will be focused (e.g., if you are hungry, your behavior will be focused

on foraging. You will be less concerned with making on foraging. You will be less concerned with making friends with others when you are dying of hunger.)friends with others when you are dying of hunger.)

1. Physiological Needs-are biological needs

They consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, They consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, & a relatively constant body temperature. & a relatively constant body temperature.

They are the They are the strongest needsstrongest needs because if a because if a person were deprived of all needs, the person were deprived of all needs, the physiological ones would come first in the physiological ones would come first in the person's search for satisfaction. person's search for satisfaction.

We need these for basic survival.We need these for basic survival.

2. Safety Needs When all physiological needs are satisfied & no When all physiological needs are satisfied & no

longer dominating our thoughts & behaviors, we longer dominating our thoughts & behaviors, we progress to safety needs.progress to safety needs.

These include the need for These include the need for securitysecurity. .

We often have little awareness of these, except We often have little awareness of these, except in times of emergency & disorganization in in times of emergency & disorganization in social structure (war time, terrorist acts, domestic social structure (war time, terrorist acts, domestic violence, natural disasters). violence, natural disasters).

3. Belongingness & Love needs When safety & physiological needs are met, we When safety & physiological needs are met, we

desire, to be loved by others & to belong.desire, to be loved by others & to belong.

Maslow states that people seek to overcome Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness & alienation. feelings of loneliness & alienation.

This involves both giving & receiving love, This involves both giving & receiving love, affection & the sense of belonging (family, affection & the sense of belonging (family, friends, social groups).friends, social groups).

4. Esteem Needs After the first 3 classes of needs are met, the needs After the first 3 classes of needs are met, the needs

for esteem can become dominant. for esteem can become dominant.

These involve needs for both self-esteem & for the These involve needs for both self-esteem & for the esteem a person gets from others. esteem a person gets from others.

Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, & respect from others. level of self-respect, & respect from others.

When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self-When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self-confident & valuable as a person in the world. When confident & valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless & worthless. weak, helpless & worthless.

5. Need for Self-Actualization When all of the foregoing needs are satisfied, then & only When all of the foregoing needs are satisfied, then & only

then are the needs for self-actualization activated. then are the needs for self-actualization activated.

Maslow describes self-actualization as a person's need to be Maslow describes self-actualization as a person's need to be & do that which the person was "born to do." "A musician & do that which the person was "born to do." "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, & a poet must write." must make music, an artist must paint, & a poet must write."

These needs make themselves felt in signs of restlessness These needs make themselves felt in signs of restlessness (person feels edgy, tense, lacking something, in short, (person feels edgy, tense, lacking something, in short, restless. )restless. )

The person must be true to his or her own nature, be what The person must be true to his or her own nature, be what you are meant to be.you are meant to be.

On Self-Actualization

Maslow believed that very few people reach Maslow believed that very few people reach the state of self-actualization. the state of self-actualization.

Although we all have the need to move Although we all have the need to move toward the goal of reaching our full toward the goal of reaching our full potential, other needs may get in the way.potential, other needs may get in the way.

IV. Misconceptions about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1. Maslow himself agreed that his 5-level need hierarchy 1. Maslow himself agreed that his 5-level need hierarchy

oversimplifies the relationship between needs & behavior.oversimplifies the relationship between needs & behavior.

2. The order of needs makes sense for most of us, though 2. The order of needs makes sense for most of us, though there may be some notable exceptions (e.g., some people there may be some notable exceptions (e.g., some people need to satisfy their needs for self-esteem & respect before need to satisfy their needs for self-esteem & respect before they can enter a love relationship).they can enter a love relationship).

3. We may so desire fulfilling a need that we sacrifice 3. We may so desire fulfilling a need that we sacrifice others below it (e.g., “The starving actor/artist”).others below it (e.g., “The starving actor/artist”).

V. The study of psychologically healthy people

Maslow was interested in studying people who are Maslow was interested in studying people who are psychologically healthy.psychologically healthy.

These were people who had become self-actualized. These were people who had become self-actualized. He interviewed these people to see how they were able He interviewed these people to see how they were able to satisfy all of the needs on the hierarchy.to satisfy all of the needs on the hierarchy.

He conducted what he called a He conducted what he called a “holistic analysis”“holistic analysis” in in which he sought general impressions from his efforts to which he sought general impressions from his efforts to understand these people in depth. understand these people in depth.

What are Self-Actualized People Like? 1. They tend to accept themselves for what they are. They 1. They tend to accept themselves for what they are. They

freely admit their weaknesses, but do make attempts to freely admit their weaknesses, but do make attempts to improve. improve.

2. They don’t worry excessively over the mistakes they have 2. They don’t worry excessively over the mistakes they have made, but instead focus on improving.made, but instead focus on improving.

3. They respect & feel good about themselves. However, this 3. They respect & feel good about themselves. However, this self love is healthy & not narcissistic.self love is healthy & not narcissistic.

4. They are less restricted by cultural norms than the average 4. They are less restricted by cultural norms than the average person. They feel free to express their desires, even if person. They feel free to express their desires, even if contrary to the popular view.contrary to the popular view.

5. These folks are creative 6. They are innovative & creative at solving problems.6. They are innovative & creative at solving problems.

7. They have relatively few friends, but the friendships 7. They have relatively few friends, but the friendships are deep & rewarding.are deep & rewarding.

8. They have a great sense of humor, poking fun at the 8. They have a great sense of humor, poking fun at the human condition. human condition.

9. These people have frequent 9. These people have frequent peak experiencespeak experiences, in , in which time & place are transcended, anxieties are lost, & which time & place are transcended, anxieties are lost, & a unity of self with the universe is obtained (birth of a a unity of self with the universe is obtained (birth of a child, marriage, deciding to go to school).child, marriage, deciding to go to school).