Abraham Maslow biography
 Abraham
Maslow is born April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He is the first of seven
children born to his parents, who themselves are poorly educated Jewish immigrants
from Russia. His parents hope for the best for their children in the new world
and push him hard for academic success. Not surprisingly, he becomes very
lonely as a boy, and finds his refuge in books.
To satisfy his parents, he first studies law at the City College of New York
(CCNY). He marries Bertha Goodman, his first grand niece, against his parents
wishes. Abe and Bertha go on to have two daughters.
Abraham Maslow and Bertha move to Wisconsin so that he can attend the University
of Wisconsin. Here, he becomes interested in psychology, and his school work
begins to improve dramatically. There he is working with Harry Harlow. Harlow
is famous for his experiments with baby rhesus monkeys and attachment behavior.
Abraham Maslow receives his BA in 1930, his MA in 1931, and his PhD in 1934,
all in psychology, all from the University of Wisconsin. A year after graduation,
he moves back to New York to work with E. L. Thorndike at Columbia, where
Maslow becomes interested in research on human sexuality.
He begins teaching full time at Brooklyn College.
During this period of his life, he
comes into contact with the many European intellectuals that are immigrating
towards the US and towards Brooklyn in particular. People such as Adler,
Fromm, Horney, as well as several Gestalt
psychologists and Freudian psychologists.
In 1951, Abraham Maslow serves as the chairman of the psychology department
at Brandeis for 10 years, where he meets Kurt Goldstein. Goldstein introduces
him to the idea of self-actualization and Maslow begins his own theoretical
work. It is also here that he begins his crusade for a humanistic psychology,
which was ultimately much more important to him than his own theorizing. He
spends the last years of his life in semi-retirement in California. On June
8 1970, he dies of a heart attack after years of ill health.
The Hierarchy of Needs model of Abraham Maslow
 Hierarchy
of Needs - Physiological needs
These are the very basic needs such as air, water, food, sleep, sex, etc.
When these are not satisfied we may feel sickness, irritation, pain, discomfort,
etc. These feelings motivate us to alleviate them as soon as possible to establish
homeostasis. Once they are alleviated, we may think about other things.
Hierarchy of Needs - Safety needs
These are dealing with achieving of stability and of consistency in a chaotic
world. These needs are mostly psychological in nature. We need the safety
of a home and family. However, if a family is dysfunctional caused by for
example an abusive husband, the wife cannot move to the next level. Because
she is constantly concerned for her safety. Love and belongingness have to
wait until she is no longer in fear. Many in our society cry out for law and
order because they do not feel safe enough to go for a walk in their neighborhood.
Hierarchy of Needs - Love and belongingness
needs
These are next on the ladder. Humans have a desire to belong to groups:
clubs, work groups, religious groups, family, gangs, etc. We want to feel
loved (non-sexual) by others, to be accepted by others. Performing artists
are appreciating applause. We need to be needed. Compare:
Hawthorne Effect
Hierarchy of Needs - Self-Esteem needs
There are two types of esteem needs. The first is the self-esteem which
is the result from competence or mastery of a task. Second, there's the attention
and recognition that comes from others. This is similar to the belongingness
level, however, wanting admiration is related to the need for power.
Hierarchy of Needs - The need for self-actualization
This is "the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything
that one is capable of becoming." People who have everything can maximize
their potential. They can seek knowledge, peace, esthetic experiences, self-fulfillment,
oneness with God, etc.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs model was developed between 1943-1954, and
first widely published in Motivation and Personality in 1954. At this time
the Hierarchy of Needs model comprised five needs. Maslow's most popular book
is Toward a Psychology of Being (1968), in which more layers were added.
Limitations of the Hierarchy of Needs model. Disadvantages
Care should be taken not to stick too rigidly to this hierarchy:
- In reality, people don't work necessarily one by one through these levels.
They are much less structured in the way they satisfy their needs. (Graves)
- Different people with different cultural backgrounds and in different
situations may have different hierarchies of need. (Hofstede,
Early)
- Other researchers claim that other needs are also significant or even
more significant. See McClelland, who identified needs for achievement,
affiliation and power.
- In 1968, Maslow has himself added additional layers in his book: "Toward
a Psychology of Being".
Despite of the above, the original five-layer-version still remains for
most people the original Hierarchy of Needs.
Book: Abraham Maslow
- Toward a Psychology of Being -
Hierarchy of Needs Special Interest Group
 Visit the Special Interest Group
Recent User Comments
|
- Ghana
|
Global Crisis |
"Has the world economy been helped by the many thories we learn in school, judging from the fact that the current global crisis could not be averted by all the 'brilliant' people around?" |
 |
|
-1 |
|
 |
|
- U.A.E.
|
Hierarchy of Needs duringRecession |
"During a recession, does the hierarchy of needs or preferences change?" |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Dr. Uditha Liyanage - Sri Lanka
|
Marketing Interpretation of Hierarchy of Needs |
"Maslow's needs hierarchy can be re-interpreted in consumer needs / value terms to read from bottom to top: Functional, Experiential, Relational, Social and Psychological." |
 |
|
7 |
|
|
|
Rudolph Woods - USA
|
Internal and External Motivators |
"Just a quick tip: Thinking on ways to motivate an employee / your workforce? You should understand that Maslow's Pyramid focuses on internal motivators or needs. Maslow shares this internal orientation with Herzberg's Two Factor Theory, Alderfer's ERG Theory and McLelland's Theory of Needs.
It is also possible to use external motivators or stimuli to motivate employees. For example by providing clear, specific, achievable targets, preferably involving the employee in the process, and preferably providing feedback, such as in Drucker's Management by Objectives and many similar result-oriented concepts." |
 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Sandra Wayne - USA
|
Abe Maslow |
"I was Abe's student and later friend of both him and Bertha and can correct some misinformation from 1950 to 1965" |
|
|
13 |
|
|
Best User Comments
|
Britny - US
|
Project. |
"If anyone has any other information on Maslow...I need it for a project. Thanks Much!" |
|
|
-27 |
|
|
Hierarchy of Needs Education & Events
More information?
12manage Premium may contain the following additional information about (the) Hierarchy of Needs :
- Expert Tips and Management Papers - 
- News and Videos on this method -
|
Compare with: Theory
of Needs | Spiral
Dynamics |
Ashridge Mission Model
| Two Factor Theory
| Theory X Theory Y
| Hawthorne Effect
| ERG Theory |
Expectancy Theory
| Customer Satisfaction
Model Kano |
Emotional Intelligence
| Cultural Intelligence
| Cultural Dimensions |
Coaching |
Mentoring
Return to Management Hub: Communication & Skills | Decision-making & Valuation | Ethics & Responsibility | Human
Resources | Knowledge & Intangibles | Leadership
| Marketing |
Strategy
More Management Methods, Models and Theory
|
|
12manage for:
|
