Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs


Abraham Maslow was a very influential psychologist from the 20th century. In 1943 he established what was then called the Pyramid of Needs, featuring a 5-tiered triangle that listed basic human needs. They are, from the bottom: (1) Physiological meaning food, water, shelter, warmth and rest; (2) Safety meaning personal security and protection from others; (3) a sense of Belonging from friends and loved ones; (4) Esteem meaning respect from self and others and at the top, (5) Self-Actualization where you become who you really are and live according to your full potential. According to Maslow, human beings are driven to fulfill these needs across different stages (from the bottom of the pyramid up) and as they do so, they reach a point in their lives where they feel 'complete.'

I was watching a YouTube video by #TheSchoolOfLife on the subject where they insisted that in his time at the apex of American capitalism, Maslow appreciated the booming economic activity. However, he also took issue with problems the largest corporations around him were- or in this case weren't addressing. He felt too much time and energy were being spent "unfairly and bizarrely" serving bottom-tier needs and not giving enough attention to the rest of his pyramid. To him for instance, America's major companies were more concerned with keeping a roof over your head, providing you food and drink, moving you around from place-to-place, and ensuring you can communicate with others long-distance rather than perhaps providing you enhanced security or fostering support systems from friends and family, or encouraging you to develop a sense of self. I know when I look around, I see a heavy presence of bars, restaurants, condos and hotels - even retail and drug stores, but very few self-help centers or support clinics.

My point in writing this is to encourage you to think and move beyond the bottom tier, the physiological. Even Maslow emphasized that no one has to completely fulfill one stage or another, just do quite well at the bottom and continue working up the pyramid. He was fine with those corporations addressing our basic or material needs, but wanted them to eventually learn to profit by investing in our higher spiritual and psychological needs as well - that to him would be a sign of 'enlightened capitalism.' We're all capable and must have be willing to establish our innermost needs from the bottom-up. Once you've made the effort to continue moving forward you'll not only find yourself at the top, but maybe even discovering a deeper version of yourself - one that will do amazing things in a brighter life beyond Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

#TheSchoolOfLife's YouTube channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IcJI8PUf5Z3zKxnZvTBog,  followed by their video on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which can be found  at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0PKWTta7lU

Thank you for reading!


Written and Edited by Cedric Denson as a product of CollegeWorld, LLC


CollegeWorld, LLC. - C3World@Outlook.com - @C3DWorld
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