Ode to Maslow(‘s Pyramid)…
Most people have heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs or short Maslow’s Pyramid (image right). In fact, it is hard to miss for anybody even slightly interested in personal development, people empowerment, motivation and happiness. And, it is probably the most influential and cited model in human and motivational psychology since it’s origin.
Maslow Pyramid 1.0 – the Original Pyramid (1943)
In case you have not yet encountered Maslow’s Pyramid, the principle is that humans go through various phases in life to eventually reach self-actualization. As stated above, it is a model based on the belief that everybody desires ‘self-actualization’ starting with basic physical and mental needs such as water, food, rest, security, relationships and self-confident. Long story short when these basic needs are met (and only then, as implied by the model), a person can self-actualize and grow personally.
The Maslow Pyramid was and is a great (and at the time of introduction revolutionary) presentation of an individual’s state of mind, development and purpose as you like. But besides all praising, the pyramid also received a fair amount of criticism over the past decades. Of which some of the four most common are summarized below:
- Hierarchy: The most claimed shortcoming of the original pyramid is that it implies that individuals’ most basic needs must be met before they are motivated to achieve the next higher level of needs to ultimately reach ‘self-actualization’. To nuance this view Maslow later nuances: “We have spoken so far as if this hierarchy were a fixed order, but actually it is not nearly so rigid as we may have implied. It is true that most of the people with whom we have worked have seemed to have these basic needs in about the order that has been indicated. However, there have been a number of exceptions.” —Maslow, ‘Motivation and Personality’ (1970), p. 51
- Cultural Difference: Geert Hofstede – most famous for his work on ‘Hofstede’s cultural dimensions’ – contests that the model doesn’t distinguish for example more individualistic versus collectivistic societies. Each having a different priority of personal needs. Personally I do agree with this, also in relation to my story in ‘pick your reality’ and in particular “individual vs collective reality”. Depending to which group (collective reality) one belongs or most identifies with (e.g. religion, nation, team, culture or tribe) a difference in the priority of the specified needs will be applicable. In general, however, the model – being invented mid-20th century – does reflect a rather universal principle whereby I fully agree with Maslow that deep down everybody desires “self-actualization”.
- Scientific Evidence: The model based it’s model through qualitative data obtained primarily from “self-actualized” people whom Maslow personally appreciated such as Albert Einstien. In accordance with “science the new religion” (story coming up) I don’t directly see how this directly disqualifies the model. It is built with creativity, expertise, talent, common sense and good intention. And whether scientifically tested or not (whatever that means these days, having plenty of research undermining previous research or research at all), the bottom line is that the pyramid made sense, inspired and guided vast amounts of people already.
- Incomplete: Some argue that the specified layers in the Maslow pyramid do not fully cover the spectrum of human needs. In 1969 Maslow added ‘self-transcendence’ as a layer being the highest state in his model.
Maslow Pyramid 2.0 – adding “meaning” to the pyramid (1969)
The Maslow Pyramid, especially the 2.0 version, is the base for my visualization of sustainable happiness.