Biography of Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who developed a hierarchy of needs to explain human motivation. His theory suggested that people have a number of basic needs that must be met before people move up the hierarchy to pursue more social, emotional, and self-actualizing needs.

Maslow's approach was quite a bit different than many of his contemporaries. While other psychologists were focused on disorders and dysfunctions, Maslow was more interested in understanding what helped people to thrive. His now-iconic pyramid of needs helped redefine how we think about human motivation. It offered a framework for understanding what drives us to go beyond just surviving to focus on things like love, esteem, and self-fulfillment.

Keep reading to learn more about Abraham Maslow's life, work, theories, and significant contributions to psychology. At the end of this article, take the pop quiz to find out how much you know about Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Abraham Maslow's Early Life

Abraham Maslow was born on April 1, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York, where he grew up, the first of seven children born to Jewish parents who emigrated from Russia. Maslow later described his early childhood as unhappy and lonely. He spent much of his time in the library immersed in books.

Maslow studied law at City College of New York (CCNY). After developing an interest in psychology, he switched to the University of Wisconsin and found a mentor in psychologist Harry Harlow, who served as his doctoral advisor. Maslow earned all three of his degrees in psychology (a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate) from the University of Wisconsin.

Abraham Maslow's Humanistic Theories

Abraham Maslow began teaching at Brooklyn College in 1937 and continued to work as a member of the school's faculty until 1951. During this time, he was heavily influenced by Gestalt psychologist Max Wertheimer and anthropologist Ruth Benedict.

Humanistic Psychology

In the 1950s, Maslow became one of the founders and driving forces behind humanistic psychology. His theories, including the hierarchy of needs, self-actualization, and peak experiences, became fundamental subjects in the humanist movement.

How did Maslow's ideas compare to other theories that were popular at the time? Some key differences:

• Maslow felt that Freud's psychoanalytic theory and Skinner's behavioral theory were too focused on the negative or pathological aspects of existence.
• He also felt that these theories neglected all of the potential and creativity that human beings possess.
• Maslow's theories were more focused on maximizing well-being and achieving one's full potential.

Self-Actualization

The process of self-actualization played a critical role in Maslow's theory. He defined this tendency as "the full use and exploitation of talents, capacities, potentialities, etc." In other words, people are constantly in the process of striving to reach their full potential. Once other needs are met, people feel more highly motivated to become the best possible versions of themselves.

Self-actualization is not an endpoint or a destination. It is an ongoing process in which people continue to stretch themselves and achieve new heights of well-being, creativity, and fulfillment.

Abraham Maslow's Contributions to Psychology

Abraham Maslow made a number of important contributions to the field of psychology. Today, he is remembered as one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. Among his contributions:

Focus on Positivity

One of Maslow's major contributions was the fact that his theories focused on the positive aspects of human nature. At a time when most psychologists focused on aspects of human nature that were considered abnormal, Abraham Maslow shifted his attention to look at the positive sides of mental health.

This contributed to the humanist movement and the later development of positive psychology.

Mental Health

His work influenced how we see mental health. His interest in human potential, peak experiences, the improvement of mental health, and personal growth had a lasting influence on psychology.

He helped shift the focus of mental illness from illness to personal growth. Instead of seeing mental health as just the absence of disorders, his approach emphasized the importance of human potential and well-being. Mental health isn't just about not having an illness—it's about being able to find meaning, fulfillment, and happiness in your life.

Continued Influence

His work continues to exert an influence today. While Maslow’s work fell out of favor with many academic psychologists (and some suggest his hierarchy might be due for an update), his theories are enjoying a resurgence due to the rising interest in positive psychology.

Maslow died in California on June 8, 1970, of a heart attack.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pop Quiz

Takeaways

Abraham Maslow left an indelible mark on psychology. While psychology primarily focused on deficits and dysfunction, he helped shift this interest to studying growth and fulfillment. His groundbreaking hierarchy of needs continues to influence researchers and students interested in knowing more about human motivation, self-actualization, and humanistic psychology. 

The needs pyramid wasn't his only contribution, though. His work expressed a powerful belief in human potential. It challenged us to move beyond merely surviving to focus on the things that could inspire meaning, purpose, creativity, and joy. Psychology has changed a lot since his time, but his legacy continues to leave a mark on everything from education to therapy to business.