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.