Everyone knows that the Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory which generalizes the needs of the human-beings by order of importance. We used to study this basic concept in Marketing to understand consumer's behaviors, but it can be also studied in philosophy, psychology, sociology, human resources, etc...
To refresh our brain, let's comment the pyramidal interpretation of the Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Well, as you can see, it exits 5 levels classified in order of importance from the bottom to the top of the pyramid by the human-being. If the needs of the first level are not satisfied, a person won't focus on the needs of the second level.
- 1st level: Physiological: basics needs of human-being in order to survive
- 2nd level: Safety: feeling safe in his environment
- 3rd level: Love/belonging: having a social life into a group of person
- 4th level: Esteem: feeling respected and respect others
- 5th level: Self-actualization: having his potential maximized
At the end of his life, Abraham Maslow revealed the existence of a 6th level in the hierarchy of needs called "self-transcendence". The "self-transcendence" level is connection beyond the ego of the person. It is the satisfaction of helping others self-fulfilled their potential. Maslow writes that only 2% of the human-being will ever reached that level.
Anyway, I am so optimistic about this level. It is a true demonstration that at least the nature of the human-being is fundamentally good because its last needs is to help the other to fulfill its potential. This theory of the motivation undermines strongly the quotes of Hobbes :"man is a wolf to man".
I think too that, al least, the nature of the human being is fundamentally good. This is that buddhist have always said.
It has to be so...we must strive to bring the goodness & acceptance of all the experiences of life. Perhaps the psychologists & sagesspeak alike; this was perhaps what the Indian sages talked about ages ago..and about oneness with the creator or the universe or nothingness...
i too feel so. it means i have reached the level of Self transcendence