Anectodotal proof of Maslow's Hierarchy can be seen in any poverty stricken environment. Or better yet, in the war zones of formerly peaceful and prosperous environments. You could prove that self-actualization rarely, if ever, flowers in war zones or ghettos. Unless of course, self-actualization had been achieved before the environment became threatening. Peace and leisure time allow for innovative thought. I'm resisting the temptation to google for experiments that would prove Maslow's Hierarchy. I'm mulling it over. So far, every experiment that I've come up with would be unethical. You can look at children who have already been deprived of needs on Maslow's Hierarchy,such as Romanian orphans, who have had their physical needs cared for but have been ignored emotionally. You could not ethically deprive children of any of the needs on Maslow's list, just to see what would happen. The effect of withholding *any* of the needs would be disastrous to a child's development. Which theoretically proves their importance, but doesn't help me
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Testable predictions have to come from the hypothesis or the theory doesn't get scientifically proven. In the case of Maslow's Hierarchy you may be able to study in retrospect and adjust for variables, but that's just not going to satisfy me. What I'm trying to devise is a controlled experiment. Anecdotal proof isn't really proof, it's mostly gossip. In this case the gossip backs up the theory quite well, which is a good place to start...The first two things on Maslow's Hierarchy can be proven...but the ones beyond that...hmmmmmmm
Maslow's theory takes workpaulbballMay 2 2005, 19:37:40 UTC
As always, I enjoyed reading your entry. It will be interesting to see how far your new life in academia takes you. As I mentioned i my blog about self-actualization, one thing my students made clear to me was that it takes a lot of work and free time to make room in your life for activities that will offer you these expereinces. I for one am too busy chasing the American dream and instead should slow down and think about what I'm missing.
Re: Maslow's theory takes workjchlMay 3 2005, 05:34:32 UTC
Self-actualization Esteem Love Safety Physiology
The hilarious thing about the American Dream, is that it ups the ante of physiological need fulfillment and it continually directs your attention to the bottom of the hierarchy. It is sort of a physiological trap,it keeps telling you that you are still hungry when you are full to bursting. Even though, by any world standard we are living high on the hog, we live with a higher level of disatisfaction in attaining *extra*. The state of enough is internal, not external. Don't I sound Grooovy?
I too, am interested to see where my new life of academia takes me. I intend on going to school until they make me stop ;-). Next semester I may even go full-time and maybe I'll be ready to transfer by the time I'm forty [in 2007]. I intend on spending my 50's and 60's being the egghead that I was destined to be. I always enjoy your entries too, I really enjoyed the poem that I took terrible liberties with.
Re: Maslow's theory takes workpaulbballMay 3 2005, 23:12:58 UTC
Mea Culpa for not posting your poem. I have had too much on my plate this semester. While I can assure you that it wasn't an intentional act, I'm sure that there's some Fruedian out there that would claim that everything is intentional and that subconsciously I'm jealous of your talent, and that's why I didn't post your peom. This all might be true, so the next time that happens, feel free to be more blunt about it. Thank you for being so nice about it.
I read (in the text, in fact) that we reach our full potential as thinkers when we are in our forties, with a very slight decline when we enter our sixties. If you are serious and have the time and energy, I wouldn't be surprised to see your name with a Ph. D after it. That's one of the things I like most about the U.S. : The second chance opportunities abound.
Comments 9
The burden, of course, is proof. Do you think it is possible to make Maslow's work scientific?
Mike
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Mike
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get scientifically proven. In the case of Maslow's Hierarchy you may be able to study in retrospect and adjust for variables, but that's just not going to satisfy me. What I'm trying to devise is a controlled experiment. Anecdotal proof isn't really proof, it's mostly gossip. In this case the gossip backs up the theory quite well, which is a good place to start...The first two things on Maslow's Hierarchy can be proven...but the ones beyond that...hmmmmmmm
Reply
Reply
Esteem
Love
Safety
Physiology
The hilarious thing about the American Dream, is that it ups the ante of physiological need fulfillment and it continually directs your attention to the bottom of the hierarchy. It is sort of a physiological trap,it keeps telling you that you are still hungry when you are full to bursting. Even though, by any world standard we are living high on the hog, we live with a higher level of disatisfaction in attaining *extra*. The state of enough is internal, not external. Don't I sound Grooovy?
I too, am interested to see where my new life of academia takes me. I intend on going to school until they make me stop ;-). Next semester I may even go full-time and maybe I'll be ready to transfer by the time I'm forty [in 2007]. I intend on spending my 50's and 60's being the egghead that I was destined to be.
I always enjoy your entries too, I really enjoyed the poem that I took terrible liberties with.
Reply
I read (in the text, in fact) that we reach our full potential as thinkers when we are in our forties, with a very slight decline when we enter our sixties. If you are serious and have the time and energy, I wouldn't be surprised to see your name with a Ph. D after it. That's one of the things I like most about the U.S. : The second chance opportunities abound.
Reply
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