The Real Top of the Pyramid

Abraham Maslow, who originally coined the term positive psychology, spent his life studying the highest reaches of human potential - how to be the best version of ourselves. He is known for his conception of the hierarchy of human needs, often displayed in psychology textbooks in a pyramid form with physiological needs (like food and water) at the bottom, then safety, love and belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization (becoming all you can be) at the top. But the textbooks are incomplete. Toward the end of his life, Maslow expanded his theory. From his research he recognized that there is more to self-actualization than reaching an individual potential; that becoming our best selves cannot be done by ourselves. Humans need both self development and self sacrifice - a merging between the self and the world (Kaufman, 2020; Maslow, 1970). His later writings revised his theory by including more growth needs and adding self-transcendence at the top of the hierarchy (Koltko-Rivera, 2006). It turns out that ‘what’s best for me’ is really ‘what’s best for us’.

It’s also important to note that Maslow never intended for his theory of motivation to be displayed in a pyramid form; a management consultant in the 60’s did that for us (Bridgeman, Cummings & Ballard, 2019). The problem with the pyramid is that it sends the message that to reach the highest levels of human potential, the lower levels have to be completely and permanently fulfilled, as if leveling up in a video game. In reality, Maslow believed people are constantly working on different needs simultaneously and growth is more of a process of two steps forward and one step back than a constant progression (Kaufman, 2020). Scott Barry Kaufman offers a new metaphor that better represents what he believes Maslow intended - a sailboat. 

The security needs form the boat that keeps us from sinking under the waves of life, and the growth needs form the sail that allows us to go where we want to go. Certainly if you have huge holes in your boat or your sail, then you won’t get far. But an adequate, though imperfect vehicle can still get you places (The Black Pearl comes to mind). At the top of the hierarchy is transcendence which goes beyond individual growth. Kaufman explains, “Transcendence, which rests on a secure foundation of both security and growth, is a perspective in which we can view our whole being from a higher vantage point with acceptance, wisdom, and a sense of connectedness with the rest of humanity” (Kaufman, 2020, p. XXXIV). So, since growth is more of a sailboat than a pyramid, even though you might not feel perfectly developed in your sense of self-worth, or your life's purpose, or your relationships, or any of the other modules on this website, you can still cultivate and experience moments of transcendence.