Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs revisited
Yikes!
I can see it's been over a month since I posted here - and that wasn't a very long post either!
So - I mentioned in the last post an article about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Apparently, some researchers have changed this - replacing 'self-actualizsation' with 'parenting' and 'having a mate'.
I find this rather problematic - it implies that the highest level that you can achieve as a person in society to to parent a child - and also be in a relationship.
I'd rather that we have values such as nurturing or having connections to others at the top of the pyramid.
I know many single people who lead happy and fulfilling lives - and many child-free people too. And although I'm sure that the researchers don't mean to imply that single and/or child-free people aren't just as fulfilled, how they've placed parenting and being in an intimate relationship at the top of this pyramid certainly implies this. What do you think?
I can see it's been over a month since I posted here - and that wasn't a very long post either!
So - I mentioned in the last post an article about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Apparently, some researchers have changed this - replacing 'self-actualizsation' with 'parenting' and 'having a mate'.
I find this rather problematic - it implies that the highest level that you can achieve as a person in society to to parent a child - and also be in a relationship.
I'd rather that we have values such as nurturing or having connections to others at the top of the pyramid.
I know many single people who lead happy and fulfilling lives - and many child-free people too. And although I'm sure that the researchers don't mean to imply that single and/or child-free people aren't just as fulfilled, how they've placed parenting and being in an intimate relationship at the top of this pyramid certainly implies this. What do you think?
Comments
I actually like "self-actualization" better because it is non-specific and flexible to a great many goals and needs. It says: do what you want, and be happy doing it! Not so much hedonism as good psychological health practice, in my opinion. Promoting ONE particular life outcome - cisgender, heterosexual, patriarchally oriented, heteronormative, monogamous, pronatalist - among countless many as the "peak" of human existence is simple minded beyond belief.