History of Maslow's psychological theory and contributions

¶ … Psychology History of Maslow

Abraham H. Maslow was a significant figure of his time. He had a passion for learning accompanied with a high level of intelligence. In addition, Maslow loved the field of psychology in which he majored in at the University of Wisconsin in 1928 (Maslow, 1970). He received training from some of the worlds finest experimental psychologists. He eventually moved on to a post-doctoral position as a research associate working alongside with several highly distinguished and respected individuals in the fields of behaviorism and psycho analytics, as Edward Thorndike and Harry Harlow (Maslow, 1970).

After Maslow realized the limitations of the methodical behaviorist psychological approach, he started to question it and explore. He expressed it was a great program; however, it had flaws. He expressed that it was good for the laboratory but not for a true image of man (Maslow, 1970). In addition, Maslow had an admiration for Freudian theory. He felt that it provided a major contribution to human understanding as we know it, especially when it came to the central role of sexuality in human behavior.

Maslow, eventually, accepted a professorship position in psychology at Brooklyn College. He taught there for 14 years (Maslow, 1970). He ended up causing a controversy on the campus because he interviewed college women about their sexual lives as part of his research. It was a controversy because research on sexuality at that time, 1936, was not taken lightly (Maslow, 1970). He often inspired students due to his own love of learning and enthusiasm for the field of psychology. Maslow showed concern and caring for his students, of whom took great appreciation since they were far from home. Other professors were not as Maslow was. He was one of the most popular professors, often coined as the "Frank Sinatra of Brooklyn College" (Maslow, 1970).

In 1951 Maslow finally left Brooklyn College and moved to a newly established Bradeis University (Maslow, 1970). He obtained a position as the first chairman of the psychology department and was committed to the university's growth. Maslow remained teaching at Brandeis until a year before his death in 1969 (Maslow, 1970).

Maslow's life was devoted to the study of people that were psychologically healthy, self-actualizing people; in other words those who have accomplished the highest level of maturation, health and self-fulfillment. Maslow eventually came up with his famous hierarchy of needs.

It was postulated, by Maslow, that human need structures are organized in a hierarchal system. Maslow was one of the first to address the hierarchy of needs that arises as basic needs or problems are being solved (Korman, 1974). He suggested that human motivation is managed by a hierarchy or ladder of needs. Needs that are lower in the hierarchy must be fulfilled before each higher level is (Korman, 1974). According to Maslow, the first level consists of the physiological needs, such as hunger and thirst. This must be fulfilled before any other level. The next level consists of security needs, which can become determinants of behavior. Examples of security needs include physical, financial, and even political or social stability. The third level consists of social needs, such as the need for love and social affiliation (DeCatanzaro, 1999). The forth level consists of self-esteem needs, which come from productive and useful work or success in many endeavors. Finally, the last level consists of the drive for self-actualization, which is our highest need, such as fulfilling personal potentials and talents. The meaning of the term self-actualization is very abstract and vague; however, it has been said that in the drive for self-actualization, we seek specialized roles in modern development societies, dependent upon our aptitudes, training and personality (DeCatanzaro, 1999).

Abraham H. Maslow was an intellectual pioneer of his time. He consistently came up with new ideas and wrote about them. This produced countless scholarly studies and his famous hierarchy of needs. What Maslow left behind was a legacy that will never be forgotten.

In regards to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it is a logical one. Naturally, I would say that a person's need for hunger or thirst is a major drive that would be collective among all people. I feel that Maslow was correct in stating this and that this is a need that must come first. In addition, his subsequent levels all fall into ladder-like steps that are accomplished in a systematic way. I further understand that these needs are experienced uniquely and differently by each individual, but we all collectively have these similar needs, innately within us.