Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAbraham Maslow’s Early LifeCareer and TheoriesContributions

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Abraham Maslow’s Early Life

Career and Theories

Contributions

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Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who developed ahierarchy of needsto 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.

This article discusses Abraham Maslow’s life, work, theory, and major contributions to psychology.

Abraham Maslow Was Best Known For:Hierarchy of needsFounder of humanistic psychologyPeak experiencesSelf-actualization

Abraham Maslow Was Best Known For:

Hierarchy of needsFounder of humanistic psychologyPeak experiencesSelf-actualization

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 was born on April 1, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York, where he grew up the first of seven children born to his 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 psychologistHarry Harlowwho 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

Maslow believed that they were such exceptional people that he began to analyze and take notes on their behavior. This analysis served as the basis for his theories and research on human potential.

Humanistic Psychology

During the 1950s, Maslow became one of the founders and driving forces behind the school of thought known ashumanistic psychology. His theories—including the hierarchy of needs, self-actualization, andpeak 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:

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.

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.

Maslow believed thatself-actualizing peoplepossess a number of key characteristics. Some of these include self-acceptance, spontaneity, independence, and the ability to have peak experiences.

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:

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

Selected PublicationsA Theory of Human Motivation,1943Motivation and Personality,1954Toward a Psychology of Being,1962The Farther Reaches of Human Nature, 1971

Selected Publications

A Theory of Human Motivation,1943Motivation and Personality,1954Toward a Psychology of Being,1962The Farther Reaches of Human Nature, 1971

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pop Quiz

Takeaway

Abraham Maslow left an indelible mark on psychology. His groundbreaking theories continue to influence researchers and students interested in knowing more about human motivation, self-actualization, and humanistic psychology.

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maslow, A.Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper; 1954.Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787Additional ReadingCross, M.100 People Who Changed 20th-Century America(1st volume.). Santa Barbara, CA; ABC-CLIO; 2013.Encyclopaedia Britannica.Abraham Maslow. Updated June 4, 2019.Lawson, R, Anderson, ED, & Cepeda-Benito, A.History of Psychology: Globalization, Ideas, and Applications(2nd ed.).New York: Taylor & Francis; 2017.Public Broadcasting Station.Abraham Maslow: 1908-1970.

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maslow, A.Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper; 1954.Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787Additional ReadingCross, M.100 People Who Changed 20th-Century America(1st volume.). Santa Barbara, CA; ABC-CLIO; 2013.Encyclopaedia Britannica.Abraham Maslow. Updated June 4, 2019.Lawson, R, Anderson, ED, & Cepeda-Benito, A.History of Psychology: Globalization, Ideas, and Applications(2nd ed.).New York: Taylor & Francis; 2017.Public Broadcasting Station.Abraham Maslow: 1908-1970.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Maslow, A.Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper; 1954.Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787

Maslow, A.Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper; 1954.

Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787

Cross, M.100 People Who Changed 20th-Century America(1st volume.). Santa Barbara, CA; ABC-CLIO; 2013.Encyclopaedia Britannica.Abraham Maslow. Updated June 4, 2019.Lawson, R, Anderson, ED, & Cepeda-Benito, A.History of Psychology: Globalization, Ideas, and Applications(2nd ed.).New York: Taylor & Francis; 2017.Public Broadcasting Station.Abraham Maslow: 1908-1970.

Cross, M.100 People Who Changed 20th-Century America(1st volume.). Santa Barbara, CA; ABC-CLIO; 2013.

Encyclopaedia Britannica.Abraham Maslow. Updated June 4, 2019.

Lawson, R, Anderson, ED, & Cepeda-Benito, A.History of Psychology: Globalization, Ideas, and Applications(2nd ed.).New York: Taylor & Francis; 2017.

Public Broadcasting Station.Abraham Maslow: 1908-1970.

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