Maslow's Theory of Motivation: Why We Must Look Beyond Behaviors

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) was among the earliest pioneers in humanistic psychology (sometimes referred to as growth psychology or third wave psychology). This movement begin to emerge in the 1950’s in response to the idea that humans were merely creatures driven by their subconscious (Sigmund Freud and the psychoanalytic model), or were organisms conditioned to respond to internal and external stimuli (B.F. Skinner and the behaviorist model). Instead, Maslow (as well as Carl Rogers Erik Erikson and Maria Montessori) saw humans as having a natural impulse toward fullness, health, healing, and growth (Maslow, 1968). The three psychological concepts for which Maslow is most highly identified are: (a) hierarchical structure of motivation, (b) self-actualization, and (c) peak experiences. This podcast address his theory of motivation