Posted by garnet71 on February 21, 2009, at 14:13:24
In reply to Re: Self-Actualization - Maslow's hierarchy of needs » garnet71, posted by SLS on February 21, 2009, at 13:42:17
No problems with it...When I write on blogs, I normally write as fast as I can type (which is very fast) so sometimes my comments are not articulate enough.
I was pointing out that Maslow's theory explains aspects of our society; in this case, in terms of the poor. People that are in the lowest levels of that hierarchy often are not able to progress to the higher levels. If you are very poor and live on less than $1 a day, you are expending all your energy just trying to survive/get your basic needs met; therefore, you can't progress in the upper levels. I found this to be partially true in my own life as a single parent facing many obstacles--it takes a lot of extra effort and energy to be poor, although my situation is nothing compared to the adversity others' in third-world countries experience. However, adversity is relative; if you are very poor in live in a society designed for the middle/upper classes, there are few coping mechanisms in society to fall back on. If you, however, live in a society where MOST are poor, there are some coping mechanisms and economic systems in place for which you can utilize to cope. Even here in America, during the Great Depression, with so many in destitute situations, people naturally developed coping mechanisms that interlaced with several aspects of their lives-spirtually, economically, family, entertainment, crime, civic engagement, etc.
I do agree with Maslow's theories in general, but as someone else pointed out, there are flaws and it is not a black and white concept. There are critics to Maslow's work; personally, I think this concept of his is pretty brilliant.
poster:garnet71
thread:881463
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090214/msgs/881519.html