Maslow's Miss
Maslow's Miss by Vicky L. Oldham, October 20, 2021
When I first read about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, I thought it made perfect sense. Then I considered my own life as a creative person. As a freelance professional artist (sculptor) for most of my life (30+ years), it was always a struggle to generate enough income so that I didn't have to worry about paying bills and could focus on creative pursuits. Occasionally, there would be enough income, and it was possible to relax for a while. During those times, I was able to focus enough to create something unique. Often, the results greatly benefited the company that commissioned the sculpture (I recall a best-selling figurine for the Franklin Mint).
However, during my career, the bottom layer of Maslow's pyramid annoyingly kept switching places with those above it. Ensuring that basic survival needs were met caused the lowest step of the pyramid to pop above the others whenever income dropped too low.
I imagine other creative types are incredibly familiar with the problem. Is the idea that once one secures basic needs, followed by subsequent layers of Maslow's pyramid (safety, belonging, self-esteem), self-actualization is suddenly possible, and one's greatest human potential is forever unleashed? What if you lose your job? What if you can't find work? What if you were not born into a wealthy family? "Real life" proves that no one's life is so linear as Maslow's concept. If one is self-actualized and loses their base of support, are they still self-actualized? Or are they only temporarily self-actualized?
Maslow studied a number of famous individuals to observe the process of self-actualization using up to 19 different traits to support his concept (Butler-Bowdon, 2007). One of Maslow's examples referred to Benedict Spinoza, born in 1632. Not knowing much about Spinoza, I looked him up and was surprised to learn about his impact on philosophy through his masterpiece, The Ethics (1677). Sadly, he died by age 44 of a lung ailment caused by his trade as a glass lens grinder. Although born to a well-off merchant family, Spinoza's family suffered recurring financial problems. His life was not a smooth, linear progression, as illustrated in Maslow's pyramid. Was Spinoza truly self-actualized even though his family suffered financial setbacks, he worked a "day job" as a lens grinder, and died young due to hazards from silicon dust? Or is it more likely that Spinoza combined his passion for a topic with his incredibly high IQ, allowing him insights that evade the average person? Do some individuals possess visionary senses that lead to breakthrough discoveries, regardless of their status, financial means, or situation in life?
An interesting article in Psychology Today shows why Maslow's pyramid is wrong, though appealing in its simplicity and order. Although it proposes to solve the riddle of human potential, it misses a fundamental observation. According to Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center and faculty in the media psychology program at Fielding Graduate University, Maslow's hierarchy of needs is too simplistic. She explains: "... here's the problem with Maslow's hierarchy. None of these needs—starting with basic survival on up—are possible without social connection and collaboration" (Rutledge, 2011, para. 6). Supporting her critique of Maslow's concept, she lays out the fact of social connection as the means to base human survival, arguing, "Without collaboration, there is no survival. It was not possible to defeat a Woolley Mammoth, build a secure structure, or care for children while hunting without a team effort. It's more true now than then" (para. 7). She continues to show how today's social media provides similar support for human connections and organization.
Job = Personal Identity?
Does a job define one's identity? I believe it depends on the autonomy an individual experiences in their role. As a working artist, I identify myself in the category of "artist" but not connected to any particular employer. I can't imagine that Maslow's concept could apply otherwise. If one pursues a professional career, entrepreneurship, or freedom in their position with another organization, I suspect their identity could relate to their job. A doctor, astronomer, engineer, or academic professional may support their sense of identity with their role based on their knowledge and experience. Still, a job defined by another organization, separate from one's expertise, usually does not contribute to one's positive sense of personal identity.
References
Butler-Bowdon, T. (2007). 50 psychology classics; who we are, how we think, what we do; insight and inspiration from 50 key books (pp. 192-197). Nicholas Brealey Publishing. http://www.butler-bowdon.com/abraham-maslow---motivation-and-personality.html
FireflySixtySeven (2014, November 2). Pyramid showing Maslow's hierarchy of needs [Graphic]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MaslowsHierarchyOfNeeds.svg
Rutledge, P. B. (2011, November 8). Social networks: What Maslow Misses. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/positively-media/201111/social-networks-what-maslow-misses-0
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