Abraham Maslow was a pioneering psychologist best known for creating Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization. Born in 1908 in Brooklyn, New York, Maslow was the first of seven children in a Jewish immigrant family from Russia. His early academic experience shaped his interest in psychology, which later blossomed during his time at the University of Wisconsin where he studied under Harry Harlow, famous for his experiments with rhesus monkeys and attachment behavior. Maslow earned his BA in 1930, his MA in 1931, and his PhD in 1934, all in psychology, and began developing his theories that emphasized a positive, humanistic approach to psychology.
Maslow's hierarchy is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower layers represent deficiency needs including physiological, safety, love/belongance, and esteem needs, while the top layer represents growth needs culminating in self-actualization. His theory suggests that the lower needs must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up. From the 1940s to the 1960s, Maslow worked on his theory through observations of individuals whom he believed to be self-actualized, including Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt. His ideas, especially about peak experiences and self-fulfillment, have been influential in giving rise to the human potential movement.
Throughout his career, Maslow expanded his theory to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity. He noted that the task of real psychology is to investigate unexplored dimensions of human nature. In his later years, he described a stage beyond self-actualization called self-transcendence, which focused on the spiritual well-being of an individual. The notion that humans strive for an intrinsic realization of their potential led Maslow to push against the grain of his time, which was heavily dominated by Freudian psychology and behaviorism. This humanistic psychology approach was seen as a counterpoint to the often negative outlooks which had been prevalent in psychology.
Maslow's work has had a lasting impact on psychology and a practical application in various fields including management, education, and social theory. His conceptualization of human motivations, needs, and the path to personal development has helped shift educational strategies towards nurturing students' potential. In management, his ideas about self-actualization have influenced leadership models and employee motivation techniques, focusing on intrinsic rewards rather than merely extrinsic ones. Despite criticisms that his theory may reflect Western, individualistic values more than universal truths, Maslow’s contributions to psychology have helped pave the way for more holistic approaches to understanding human behavior. His emphasis on the positive potential of human beings continues to resonate, making him a seminal figure in motivational psychology.