Reshaping Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to Reflect Today's Educational and Managerial Philosophies

Abstract

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory is almost fifty years old. In that time, educational and managerial fields have changed greatly. This article presents debate of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory to reflect that in today's world, closed triangle is not valid representation. Instead, an open, wide faced structure is needed to better reflect that self actualization is never ending. And with this never ending self actualization, individuals can engender lifelong learning, change management, and boundlessness, all important factors for 1990's educational and managerial environments. Fifty years ago business world was very different place. The economic boom of World War II shielded employees from downsizing, vast number of immigrants provided management with plentiful, cost-efficient labor, and super power image of America abroad was omnipresent. It was also fifty years ago, that Abraham Maslow developed his Hierarchy of Needs Model. His theory of human needs and motivation found that people fulfilled physical, security, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs in an orderly, ascending fashion. Depicted as closed triangle, this model espoused that individuals may never satisfy all of their needs, especially needs at highest level. Fifty years later, business world has downsized, labor costs are increasing, and America's super power image is challenged. What would Mr. Maslow say today? How would his triangle look? Since Maslow's unveiling of his Hierarchy of Needs Theory in 1954, his critics have been apparent. The Theory has been challenged on its lack of scientificity (Heylighen, 40), integrated conceptual structure, (Heylighen, 45), supportive research evidence (Wahba, 212), and validity of concept (Schott, 109). Here I am not challenging, but rather suggesting to update theory based on needs of today's society. The major premise is that theory of Hierarchy of Needs is sound, but I question fourth and mainly fifth levels, those that discuss self-esteem and self-actualization. As I am proposing changes to concept, my main emphasis is that shape that depicts Hierarchy of Needs, triangle, must be altered. Self actualization is defined as a process of becoming, the process of development which does not (Heylighen, 41), the individual doing what he is fitted for - `what man can be, he must be', (Maslow 91), a desire to become more and more what one is', (Maslow, 92), and being mature, fully human person in whom human potentialities have been realized and actualized, (Mittleman, 116). Given these definitions, shape of Hierarchy of Needs must be changed so as to integrate 1990's society. Managers, teachers, and parents find that encouragement yields greater productivity. Organizational development concepts have long espoused this. In first definition, it states that self actualization is process and does not end. If self actualization does not end, then why is triangle closed? …

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