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Abraham Maslow (1908–1970) was a humanistic American psychologist. Many people are familiar with his name because of his “hierarchy of human needs.” Maslow studied generally healthy individuals and observed that there are specific needs that humans possess, which he organized in a hierarchical structure.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is commonly depicted as a pyramid with the most fundamental needs at the base. Once the needs at the foundational level are satisfied, an individual can progress up the pyramid to address higher-level needs. Maslow identified the initial four levels of needs as deficiency needs—motivating people’s actions due to the absence of these elements. The base level encompasses physical requirements (e.g., food, water, and, as per Maslow, sexual fulfillment). The subsequent level comprises security needs (e.g., safety and stability in one’s surroundings). Following these are love and belonging needs (e.g., connections with family and friends), succeeded by esteem needs (e.g., self-respect and recognition from others). At the pinnacle of the pyramid are growth needs, which Maslow termed “self-actualization.” The concept here is that once basic needs are fulfilled, individuals possess the aspiration and capability to develop and achieve their full potential.
Since Maslow initially introduced the theory in 1943, his hierarchy has faced criticism, refinement, and expansion. The primary critique often targets Maslow’s methodology—his observation of predominantly self-actualized individuals, mostly males. This approach inherently carries bias, and with a limited sample size, the conclusions may not be universally applicable across different cultures, ages, and genders. Maslow acknowledged that not all lower-level needs must be satisfied for higher-order needs to emerge. He also noted that certain needs may take precedence over others based on the individual and circumstances. For instance, one person may be more driven by esteem needs than by belonging needs. Maslow also emphasized that behaviors and motivations are influenced by various factors beyond just the hierarchical structure of needs.
ior is multi-motivated and often determined by a combination of needs rather than just one.
Despite the criticisms, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs remains popular in psychological education, the business world, and other fields that attempt to understand human motivations and development. The concept makes intuitive sense—after all, a person who is starving is likely to care more about finding a meal than about developing a friendship.
Biblically, we know our deepest need is for a relationship with God, which comes only through salvation in Jesus Christ «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). Of course, our spiritual needs for forgiveness and a relationship with our Creator are missing from Maslow’s pyramid.
The Bible would certainly not refute our needs for physical provision, a sense of safety, a feeling of love and belonging, or a sense of worth and respect from others. However, the “growth need,” as interpreted in secular psychology, is based on a denial of man’s depravity and the false notion that mankind is basically good.
So, most of the needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are valid, although most people have a hard time distinguishing “needs” from “wants.” From a biblical perspective, our most pressing need is for Jesus and the Truth of God. While being tempted in the desert, “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”’” «But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. », (Matthew 4:4). This statement from our Lord seems to challenge the foundation of Maslow’s pyramid: our basic needs are not just physiological, but spiritual.
Paul talked about being content in need andIn abundance (Philippians 4:12-13)—he did not need his basic needs to be fulfilled before serving others. Believers should also ponder Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: is our aim “self-actualization,” or is it Christlikeness? Must we truly have our physical, social, and emotional needs satisfied to be godly and Christlike? Agape love chooses self-sacrifice and prioritizes meeting others’ needs first. Agape love considers others before oneself, not first «does not behave improperly, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; », (1 Corinthians 13:5). “Value others above yourselves, not focusing on your own interests but each of you on the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). The entire Maslow’s pyramid seems to crumble when compared to Scripture.
The genuine human needs identified in Maslow’s hierarchy can be fulfilled in God. In Exodus, we witness God abundantly providing for the physical needs of His children. In the Psalms and Elijah’s life, we see moments when God’s people felt isolated, yet God sustained them. There were also instances when God’s people faced disrespect or humiliation, yet they found their hope in Christ. Maslow perceived human needs as being satisfied through earthly means, but we understand that even if those needs are met, life can still feel “vanity” (refer to the book of Ecclesiastes). We may lack earthly fulfillment but still discover contentment in Christ.
Once more, Scripture recognizes that humans possess specific needs, many of which are reflected in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Christians should compassionately strive to address the needs of others. Our efforts to communicate spiritual truths may fall on deaf ears without a physical aspect that aligns with that truth. Meeting people’s earthly needs while not sharing the gospelWill do little of eternal value. Conversely, sharing the gospel while overlooking people’s earthly needs will also achieve little of eternal significance. James addresses this in his discussion about faith without works being dead (James 2:14-26).
In the Gospels, we witness Jesus addressing people’s physical needs by providing essentials like food and healing. He also addressed their anxieties and offered them a sense of assurance. He acknowledged the marginalized members of society, addressing their longing for affection and acceptance. Jesus, our Creator, understands all our needs. He is capable of fulfilling every requirement, including our need for forgiveness and completeness. Jesus provided clarity and established the priority: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [the basic necessities of life] will be added to you as well. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:33-34).
