PREVIOUS: Transcendence #2

BOOK: “The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Case for the Existence of the Soul“

▪︎ Living with our Spiritual Brain

BACKGROUND: Maslow’s parents were first generation Jewish immigrants from Kiev (living in Brooklyn, NY), & he experienced anti-Semitism from teachers & schoolmates. Coupled with a troubled relationship with his mother & no childhood friends, he become a loner, spending hours in libraries.

As an adult – he was an atheist & so found it difficult to accept religious experience as valid, unless placed in a positivistic framework. Rather than ascribing peak experiences to God (as did many people he interviewed), Maslow argued that the basic experience is human, & that we use the language of “God” to describe it because that’s the only language available in most cultures to discuss such things. Accordingly, his “God” was the description, not the cause.

In contrast to Maslow, Victor Frankl – founder of Logotherapy & Existential Analysis – was deeply religious, & considered religious-spiritual experiences an important part of human nature. This in spite of what he suffered in Auschwitz, & where he lost his wife, his mother & brother.

Frankl criticized Maslow’s Humanistic Psychology movement for overlooking the transcendent nature of human experience.  He said: “Religion is the search for ultimate meaning…. not about ensuring the accomplishment of a relaxed life conduct, or the lack of conflict or some other psycho-hygienic objective. Religion offers more to human beings than psychotherapy, & indeed expects more from us.”

Their contemporary, Carl Jung, was luckier than Frankl – as a Swiss citizen he was spared the hell of war. Even so, the mental/emotional instability of his mother & the experience of poverty in his early years also caused psychological injuries. Yet he too was profoundly spiritual, delving into its many forms.

And the French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said:  “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience”.

3 Intelligences – IQ = Mental  //  EQ = Emotional // SQ = Spiritual
SQ says that human beings are essentially spiritual creatures, driven by a need to ask fundamental / ultimate questions. It allows us to be creative, seek answers & play an ‘infinite’ game. Spiritual experiences can be communing with God, for humanists – a feeling of oneness with nature, embracing humanity, or as simple as being elated during sporting events.

BENEFITS of enhanced SQ = resilience:
• live an energetic & balanced life
• effectively manage emotions
• become more reflective & introspective
• build capacity to face life’s ups & downs
• reluctance to cause unnecessary harm (also slide #46)

BLENDING – In a 2011 article, Dr. Melvin Morse wrote: “Recent scientific advances in Neuroscience & Information Theory have triggered a profound shift currently rippling through all areas of society – the long-awaited reunion of Science & Spirituality.  The New Paradigm embraces consciousness as a primal component of the Universe, no less than the mathematical laws which are also embedded in it.

Like prior shifts, ‘Consciousness Comes First’ does not overthrow our current knowledge of material reality. It simply adds a deeper level of understanding, that our Universe is made of ‘Vital Dust’, as Nobel Laureate Christian De Duve described it.” (More….)

Tony Jack & Julie Exline (Case Western Reserve U.) have studied the pragmatic conflict between science & spirituality/religion. They used neural imaging to shed light on the divide, finding that the differences come from the brain’s wiring.

Humans have 2 mutually exclusive & distinct neural pathways, so when one is activated, the other shuts down:
— an Analytical mode, ie. task positive network, which kicks in when we need to solve a task,  AND
— an Empathetic mode, ie. default mode network, which helps us understand other people’s emotions, & to identify with them.(More….)

Exline reminds us that our analytical mind sometimes comes up short on answers to life’s problems. Her research shows that when people dealing with spiritual struggles avoid tackling the big existential questions, their mental health suffers. Science & spiritual inquiry, says Jack, are like breathing in & breathing out. “You can’t do both at the same time, but you need both to stay healthy & well.”

A 2012 study which followed 114 adults for 10 years, showed that those with strong spiritual convictions had only one-fourth the risk for major depression, compared to their opposites. Researches stated : “Spiritual experiences involve pronounced shifts in perception, buffering the effects of stress on mental health.”  (American Journal of Psychiatry).

In addition to strengthening intellectual abilities, cultivating spiritual experiences can help people lead emotionally richer lives, & develop more open minds.
Surprisingly, it’s science that’s telling us to be more spiritual.

NEXT: Spiritual Transcendence #2

PREVIOUS: Transcendence (#2)

SITE: Some thoughts about “Meaning“

HUMAN TRANSCENDENCE
DEF:  An experiential meaning-making process to form extraordinary connections within, & beyond the self with others – in time & space.

♦ In his Spiritual Awakening Blog – Jim Tolles defines Transcendence as the a conscious ability to choose how we respond to any situation – about walking through the fire (of life & Self), not away from it. ‘Achieving’ spiritual transcendence is NOT about:
– running away from oneself, or being free of ego
– that we’ll somehow be better than everyone else
– never feeling pain or facing adversity again. Life still brings hard times.

Transcendence is the OPPOSITE of reactions from the ego state, choosing something we think would get us the best result or would get us away from uncomfortable feelings. These are driven mainly by fear, aggression, or anything that’s heart self-protective, where we react & then later have to clean up the mess it made.

Tolles continues: Transcendence is like going to a new floor in the building (the Earth). Awakening is the elevator, but you still live in it, & have certain rules to abide by (our body, dealing with others…). All these things make an ego a useful tool. BUT it’s erratic & out of control…..

Transcendence doesn’t think the ego-way. It doesn’t exactly think. It’s an intuitive knowing that allows you to see a bigger picture, and from that awareness, you can choose actions that allows you to see where you’re out of alignment with love & kindness, & then consciously re-align yourself.

♦ In “Transcendence & Spiritual JOY” – Cabrini Pak, (U of Chicago), sees transcendence as a process rather than a specific event or continuous state of being, which allows for various possible outcomes:
1) Stabilizing a sense of Self, to better answer: “What am I?”

2) Making extra-ordinary connections within & outside the Self, with space-time moral connections to specific meaningful events, which can then be used for future reference

Anti-transcendence, the reverse, is the end result of someone not being able to make positive meaning from a personally relevant extremely negative event, (see Post above). This inability is accompanied by markers such as profound shame or guilt, or a lack of valued support, which then overshadow future experiences.

Transcendence requires enough personal growth (actualization) to extract positive meaning from difficult & painful situations in life. Here are 3 ways:

A. Understanding / figuring it out – by thinking
B. Discovering it for oneself – by reflection, pondering, letting the unconscious work, meditating….
C. Create it – by taking actions, trying something & observing the outcome

EXAMPLE re. Illness
Dr. Marie Dezelic, Living with Meaning, applies Victor Frankl’s Logotherapy & its techniques to ‘Meaning in Illness’. The idea is that regardless which specific needs may be thwarted, each patient has the capability of “becoming”, even in the face of the unsatisfied ones. (Frankl)

Goethe stated: “If we take people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat them as if they were what they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming”. And from Niklaus Graber (2004): “The resources of inner strengths are to be found in the spiritual dimension”.

Dr. Dezelic: “With cancer, or any terminal illness, many of the basic lower level (D) needs are missing, or are changed altogether”…… Suffering can take over one’s identity, & while higher level needs (B) may be longed for, they’re hard to pursue, so existential value & meaning are ignored.

Logotherapy can help diagnosed patients construct a new way of seeing themselves, focused on “Being” & “Becoming,” rather than on what was lost, changed, or on any limits the person is faced with. So while the needs caused by illness are addressed, ‘Meaning’ can also be worked on

As shown on this pyramid, not all lower areas of meaning have to be met or progressed through in order to reach transcendence. Instead, all meaning-making opportunities can lead toward it to form a new self-understanding.

NOTE: People who have a solid faith in God / Higher Power already have a clearer sense of Meaning / purpose / reason, giving them a strong foundation to rely on in the face of any adversity.

Helpful CHARTS re. : Hope, Processing Grief & Healing

NEXT: Maslow “Modern”

PREVIOUS: Transcendence #1

SITE: Applying Self-Transc. to Nursing

• CONVERSATIONS: Personal Journeys of Transcendence and Healing

TRANSCENDENCE – Level #8 (cont)

NOTE: This level can be considered in 2 overlapping parts: Self-transcendence and Spiritual Transcendence.

In a study by Schnell & Becker, they considered S-T in the:
▶︎ Horizontal, as the Self connecting with health, reproduction, care for others, social commitment & unison with nature
▲ Vertical, as the Self relating to explicit religiosity & spirituality

Transcendence combines a psycho-social-spiritual drive toward personal maturity, distinct from the more self-absorbed striving for self-esteem & intimacy (Levels 3 & 4), by finding greater goals & ideas that serve as a backdrop for one’s whole life.

Strengths of Self-transcendence (S-T)
✩ Appreciation of beauty & of excellence in every experience, & value the excellence in oneself & others
✩ Gratitude – leading to contentment (31 Benefits )
✩ Hope – making difficult tasks & goal-attainment easier
✩ Humor & playfulness – helps to cope with life’s stresses, & facilitate healing wounds in self & others
✩ Spirituality – finding one’s life-goal & positive self-story to give one’s life meaning, greater than just getting through the day.

Spiritual transcendence is the perceived experience of the sacred that effects one’s self–perception, feelings, goals, & the ability to transcend / overcome one’s difficulties. HERE meaning comes from connecting to other people, to universal energy & to a Higher Power (of one’s understanding)

Barbara Hanfstingl’s research lists 3 Measures of spirituality – Implicit self-regulation, Meaning in life & Mysticism, with the latter including:
– Timelessness = feeling at one with the universe
– Good power = feeling moved by an ethereal, heavenly force
– Spiritual insights = which cannot be put into words, too sacred to describe

3 TYPES of S-T (review of Julius Kuhl‘s life & work – scroll UP)
Kuhl & Fuhrmann postulated that human personality is a composite of inner processes for regulation – focused on maintaining the individual’s intended goals:
a. Ego transcendence – self beyond ego = overcoming the barrier between explicit & implicit self-regulation (thinking vs. emotions) – such as deliberately switching between analytic & holistic information processing (intention vs. extension memory).

Implicit self-regulation includes:
▪︎ Positive self-perception ✳️
▪︎ Self-motivation ⬆️ & self-calming ⬇️
▪︎ Action oriented failure management ➡️

b. Self-transcendence – beyond self toward the other = connecting the I & the You, the capability to get & stay involved with another. NOTE: it’s the opposite of narcissism, where the self & the ego are fused

c. Spiritual transcendence – Generally, religious people show higher levels of emotional well-being than nonreligious ones, while also striving for high standards. Transcending experiences go beyond the space-time world that surrounds us, & includes a perception of divinity. (MORE….)

TIME & SPACE
DEF: Transcendence – An experiential meaning-making process to form extraordinary connections within, & beyond the self – with other, in time & space.

Pamela Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory’s assumptions:
a.  Human beings are integral to their environment
b. Self-Transcendence is a developmental imperative

Figure 1 shows a “healthy, open & multidimensional entity, with continuously fluctuating imaginary boundaries, existing within time.”
Past, present & future interact with the person. With transcendent development – their perception of boundaries becomes less distinct, so they can identify Self well beyond the physical & present moment….. and time can become less obvious to them, so everything, including boundaries (separateness), seen less affected by the passing of time.

Figure 2 represents one of an infinite number of possible scenarios for people who are unable to successfully develop self-transcendence. They have more distinct but constricted boundaries & a limited relationship to the external environment. The future is not well integrated into the present, & there’s too much identification with the past.

There is a strong sense of self, but it’s mainly focused on their physical presence, without any real connection to others, the world, or intangible truths (intuition, spirituality….) – ie. narcissism.

♦ Our BRAIN’s GPS can help track time & distance, using grid cells – (originally done with rats). These cells “lay down the sequence of time & space that provide a framework for unfolding events” (a critical aspect of memory) says Howard Eichenbaum, at Boston U.
☆ Grid cells that act like a spatial map in the brain have been identified for the first time in humans, in new research by UCL scientists in the UK (MORE….)

NEXT: Maslow & Meaning

PREVIOUS: Maslow Level 5c

 2 MORE LEVELS
♦ Instead of focusing on what goes wrong with people (psychopathology), Maslow formulated a more positive account of human behavior which focused on what goes right.  Originally his Level #5 was: Self-actualization needs – realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth & peak experiences. (1943)

In his later years, Maslow changed his understanding of this level. He came to believe that the Self only becomes actualized by pursuing a higher goal outside itself – the need to connect to something beyond the ego, by helping others find self-fulfillment & realize their potential – & therefore transcendent in nature. But he also pointed out that it can go hand-in-hand with Level 1, because Belief is a great motivator.

In the 1970s he gave an expanded version of the Pyramid. Stages 1-4 remain the same, which – when provided for – help us develop “better life choices.” Between 4 & 5 he added 2 new ones, & a last one called ‘Transcendence’ – which Daniels (2001) thinks may be one of Maslow’s most important contributions to the study of human behavior & motivation. William G. Huitt, Valdosta State University, GA

ADDED
#5. Cognitive  – (mental) Maslow observed that humans have a hunger to increase their intelligence, for meaning, predictability…., which motivates them to chase knowledge. It’s basically the need for truth, made up of the needs to know & to understand (both required for survival). 

It comes with a curiosity to learn, explore, discover & create – to better understand the world around us, which requires an openness to experience. This type of growth – when not fulfilled – leads to confusion & identity crisis. Maslow considered it a defining aspect of psychologically healthy people, & the unhealthy were people who had their truth needs thwarted. (More….)

#6. Aesthetic  – (artistic) The need to appreciate & actively search for inherently pleasing forms & balances, aesthetically new things , & opportunities to express oneself in many creative ways.

Maslow believed that humans are refreshed by nature, forming an intimate oneness with it by carefully observing their surroundings, to absorb the beauty that the world has to offer – all part of the path towards Self-Actualization. And just as with other missing needs, when people with strong aesthetic needs are deprived of them, they can experience stress & sickness.

STANDARD
#7. Self-Actualization  – (psychological) realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth & peak experiences (previous posts)

At this level, the obvious question is: ‘If someone is already self-actualizing, what then motivates that person? In looking for an answer, Maslow (1969) came up with “motivation by intrinsic values” that go above & outside personal self-interests. Self-Actualization and Transcendence are considered Being qualities, or B-values, whereas the previous ones are Deprivation Needs (D) which must be filled in order to function.

#8. Self-Transcendence (spiritual) – made up of universal values such as Excellence, Fairness, Goodness, Justice, Perfection, Truth…..& can include aesthetic, altruistic, mystical, religious, sexual, scientific…. experiences  (More in next posts)

♦ Peter K. Gerlach, MSW has proposed YET an ADDITIONAL level: 
which could be called “Recovery” needs

Much has been learned about human behavior & motivation since Maslow created the original pyramid in the 1940s. He & his clinical contemporaries seemed to be unaware of childhood trauma or about Grown Wounded Children  – (Explanation + video. GWCs = ACoAs).

The cycle of inherited wounds + low parental nurturance + lack of self-awareness = can keep both adults & children stuck in levels 1-4, which blocks them from thriving.  Like ground fog obscuring a mountain peak, such damage can prevent living with purpose, & even shorten life.  People with significant unhealed wounds often lose clear focus of purpose & prioritizing ability that the True Self would be able to provide.

The one Gerlack suggests would go between levels #3 (Belonging) & 4 (Esteem), using a list of basic human needs – to Reduce early-childhood Wounds, & free our inherent True Self to make its own life decisions.
“This is required in order to develop…..
• a clear personal identity (who am I?),
• genuine self-respect & self-worth (vs. shame & guilt), & to grow a …..
• ….. stable sense of self-love, self-respect & self-confidence (vs. self-neglect, shame & self-doubt)”

“People guided by their True Self & clearly aware of their primary needs – are more likely to make core attitude changes where necessary, bringing permanent behavioral shifts.”
Editorial comment: YEAH for him!

NEXT: Pyramid Growth

PREVIOUS: Level 5a

SITE: 5 Way to Self-actualize

Maslow’s Original PYRAMID (cont.)

Level 5. SELF-ACTUALIZATION — KEY CHARACTERISTICS (Western-culture biased)

Self-actualizers (S-As) are people who have shed much of their unhealthy attachments & expectations, liberating them to enjoy flexibility & spontaneity. And because they focus more on their inner-guided purpose in life, so are able to leave wonderful & beneficial legacies.

SAs are not so concern with taking credit or casting blame. They don’t waste a lot of energy judging others, since they’ve come to understand the beauty & suffering of the path everyone is on.

While achieving SA goals is not ‘required’ for normal psychological development, it is required to be ‘fully-realized’. And even though these needs can never be totally satisfied, any gratification that is gained from ones efforts can spur people to keep on trying.
When motivated people do reach a specific big goal, they usually come up with a new one to work toward. But it’s also important to savor each success before setting off on a new adventure

Maslow noted that Self-actualizers often feel saddened, exasperated, even enraged by the shortcomings of the average person, which can be such a nuisance that it sometimes makes S-As bitter (1970)

• Accept Reality: S-As can correctly evaluate & have an easy acceptance of Self, others & nature – without complaint, guilt or shame about limitations or shortcomings, & so are able to be gently honest with everyone. They aren’t confused by any disparity between the truth & an idealized self-image

• Appreciative: S-As have a sense of appreciation, wonder & awe about the world – the innocent way happy children do. Even simple things can be a source of inspiration & pleasure, so they don’t get jaded or bored with familiar experiences.
They can get very absorbed by & extract deep richness from subjective experiences, which can involve music, sexual enjoyment & appreciating beautiful things in nature

 • Autonomous : S-As are self-contained, & confident in their own judgment, without having to lean on others or the outside world. Because SAs are driven by growth rather than deficiency needs, their sense of satisfaction comes from continually improving their life, as a result of their efforts  (⬇️ a SA goldfish 😄)

Having grown strong enough to be an ‘inner-individual’, they don’t need others to keep providing the normal human requirements of earlier levels, because they already they have enough & can add to them whenever things change.
They make up their own mind, having more free will than most people, & don’t need to convert others to their way of thinking or doing

• Creative : Altho this is part of every human interest & activity, level 5 creativeness is a special type – like the inborn, naive imagination of children – the sky’s the limit! While most adults forget to use this natural talent, S-As keep trying new things instead of getting stuck in a rut

• Democratic : S-As are friendly toward & interact with just about anyone, without concern for differences in class, education, race, color, religious or political beliefs. They’re likely to protest against evil & tend to be less ambivalent or confused about their own righteous anger

• Discerning: S-As rely on their own judgment & intelligence to form opinions about people, situations & things, & are not easily influenced by external social trends or pressures

• Ends, not means: S-As focus on where they want to end up, rather than getting caught up in means – the ‘how’. Most adults can’t seem to choose a goal before listing what resources & skills they have in order to move forward. These become screening devices used to decide what goal to try for – which severely limits their options

This is the opposite of how children operate – they want something & then figure out how to get it!
That’s exactly what SAs do – being open-minded, goal-focused, & willing to risk trying, the ‘means’ evolves in the process of doing

• Ethical: S-As are confident in their evaluation of what’s right & wrong,   knowing the difference between good & evil, so are not confused or inconsistent about moral issues – not hypocrites. They’re aware of the ethical implications of all their actions

• Growth oriented : S-As are always looking for opportunities to improve themselves & their environment. They know it’s a life-long process, have the courage to tackle the hard parts & try new ways to resolve obstacles

NEXT:

PREVIOUS: Level 4

 SITE: “Hierarchy or DOG Needs“

“Birth, life, achievement”
⬅ by DMT

Maslow’s Original PYRAMID (cont.)
Level 4. ESTEEM

Level 5. SELF-ACTUALIZATION
As mentioned in the Intro – Maslow & others have added more levels. In later years Maslow criticized his early version, saying that people can go beyond self-actualization by devoting themselves to higher pursuits outside themselves, such as altruism & spirituality (More later).
Supposedly level 5 can only be reached if all the others are satisfied AND mastered, which may be generally true, but as pointed out in Level 1, it’s not always a straight line, and for many highly driven creatives the Pyramid is revered.

However, in the original Pyramid, the last phase was identified as the Need to “be all that one is able to become”. The term self-actualization was first used by German psychiatrist & neurologist, Kurt Goldstein (1878 – 1965) to explain this human drive. The focus is on fulfilling ones potential, by being self-aware, pursuing mental & emotional growth, & acting on ones talents – determined by internal factors rather than external rewards

This stage is driven by creativity, spontaneous actions & morality. Issues / problems can often be resolved without pressure or violence, & reality is usually experienced thru the lens of a positive mind-set, without too many judgments

People who strive for these goals are not satisfied with their personal ‘status quo’, want to giving back to society, can sometimes have peak experiences, & are often supported by their social environment, yet are less concerned with the opinions of others

Maslow quotes: • “What a man can be, he must be.”
• Self-actualization is an ongoing process of fully exploiting ones talents & capabilities – using abilities & intelligence to do well the thing that one wants to do (Farther Reaches of Human Nature)

• It is desirable to make these goals conscious because they are the ideal aspirations of the individual, but they’re also the upper limit of possibilities which humans approach but practically never attain (1963)

Self-actualization is not something a person either has or does not have. Instead, it’s a never-ending process of working toward one’s potential – a way of continually living, working & relating to the world, rather than identifying oneself with a single accomplishment.
Great talent or intelligence is not the same as self-actualization. Many gifted people fail to use their abilities fully, while others, perhaps not so brilliant, accomplish a great deal.

Of course, not everyone has the same goals or dreams, so self-fulfillment is subjectively defined by ourselves, from being the best musician in the world, to being the best parent on the planet. One person may feel self-actualized because of their very important job at the UN, while another can achieve it from teaching children in a small town – so we don’t have to become famous to feel fulfilled. Whatever the goal, it’s the desire to make the most of life – the ultimate achievement in our own eyes.

The Pyramid is used in many different arenas of life, such as the pyramid of Trust, Family Practice…. see below. Also, updated Maslow – 2.0

CHILDREN: While their needs may seem simplistic compared to adults, when family & community can provided them well, they become the foundation for a good & productive life (More….)

SALES :  There is no one product that will satisfy everyone’s total identity – ie. all 5 levels (usually 🤪 one’s whole life isn’t built around owning the hottest sneaker, car, fashion….). So, what Marketers try to do is offer brands that appeal to people’s Level 5 aspirations, suggesting those products will (ideally) help consumers achieved them (More….)

Exp: Nike ads tailor slogans as sources of inspiration, & so connect with their audience, making them so successful: “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” , “Just do it” ….

ATHLETICS: Reaching the winners circle in any field requires hard work & perseverance, which includes having many positive qualities. Coach Wooden spent his career fostering greatness. His believed that to fully achieve success someone must first develop the building blocks of determination: 

NEXT: Level 5b 

PREVIOUS: Level 3

 SITE:  20 Ways to Increase Self-esteem

** How to Build Self-esteem in a Child

Maslow’s Original PYRAMID Version (cont)
Level 3. LOVE & BELONGING

Level 4. ESTEEM
Together, the Social & Esteem levels (3 & 4) make up the psychological aspects of the hierarchy – the ego needs. To achieve them, one has to accept who they are, as much as possible, which young people have not yet fully discovered.

This level deals with more complex aspects of life. Regardless of background, humans have the need for personal adequacy & achievement, competence & mastery, for independence & freedom, self-respect & self-worth, with confidence & strength to face of the world.
Maslow divided this level into:

1. Higher version / Self-esteem
All of us want to be more than just a featureless face in the crowd – to be known & appreciated as a unique, respected person. Maslow understood that having an Authentic Self allows people to satisfy esteem needs by appropriate external avenues, & by internal acceptance of our cognitive abilities, emotions & practical skills.

This insures that any respect gained will be legitimate – rather than from illusions produced by an idealized false self – respect which helps us feel confident & competent in dealing with others.

Maslow indicated that children & adolescents greatly need respect & a positive reputation, which precede real dignity & self-esteem.
Because self-esteem is so crucial for personal growth, a lack of it leads to discouragement, helplessness, weakness, depression, suicidal thoughts…… (More….)
Survivors of neglectful & abusive childhoods – such as continually being shamed – endlessly search for specialness & praise they never got. Yet the WIC will discount them when offered (“I really don’t deserve it”).

Reviewing studies of severe psychological disorders, & looking at the work of such people as Erich Fromm on Love & the stress of being untrue to one’s own nature, Carl Rogers on the Psychology of the Self, essays by Ayn Rand, theologians on pride & hubris.… remind us of the extreme importance of providing self-esteem needs, so we can feel necessary & useful in our life.

2. Lower version / Recognition – the need for the esteem of others – the universal desire for prestige. It includes status & a good reputation, dignity & importance, attention, recognition & appreciation, fame & glory, dominance &/or position in society or what is achieved in ones social circle. 

Externally, here people are striving to be involved with others rather than standing out as individuals. It’s about becoming invested in family or partnerships, where cooperation & trust are much more important than self-needs. It also goes beyond just having social relationships – it’s wanting to make contributions at home, at work & in society, and getting credit for them.

These needs were neglected by Freud, but have been stressed by more modern thinkers such as Alfred Adler & his followers, with increasing appreciation of their very real importance found among current psychoanalysts & clinical psychologists. Learning how to work well with others & setting appropriate boundaries are crucial to balancing self-esteem with getting esteem from others.

Negatively – At one extreme some people’s hunger for Importance or Domination make them over-focus on family & group needs at the cost of their own, creating distress for themselves & difficulty for others when they explode or burn out.
At the other extreme some ambitious types driven by low self-esteem become obsessed with needing Respect from everyone, or on Recognition thru money, fame, power, glory…..

And – unfortunately for the underprivileged or otherwise limited (psychologically or physically), our society harshly judges everyone on achievements (“What have you done lately? / How much money do you make?….”) without considering that many of such people’s Levels 1-3 needs are unmet, making it hard to develop their potential

Positively, It’s easier to provide these requirements by having a framework for recognizing & organizing them. Some avenues to fulfillment —
PERSONAL : head of household, pride in ones children
WORK: Job title & compensation, acknowledgement of accomplishments
FUN : sports, hobbies
SOCIAL : professional, academic & religious activities

Learning about Maslow’s levels makes it possible to understand & accept shortcomings in ourselves & others when seen as need-limitations rather than being bad or lazy. It especially helps us appreciate what we already have, & identify what we may lack so those needs can be worked on.

NEXT: Level 5

PREVIOUS: Maslow Level 2

Maslow’s Original PYRAMID  (cont)
Level 1. PHYSICAL
Level 2. SAFETY
Level 3. LOVE & BELONGING
Affiliation: This level is motivated by the human need to be accepted & belong. We are social beings, with the emotional desire to avoiding loneliness, depression & anxiety. We’re want to communicate with others & get positive responses, as a validation for our efforts to reach outside of ourselves. This requires an amount of mastery over levels 1 & 2, to have some control over getting these psychological needs met.

NEEDS
✦ admiration, acceptance, respect, trust
✦ companionship, affection, love, sexual & emotional intimacy
✦ extended family, friendship & other fulfilling relationships
• career satisfaction, work recognition & appreciation, belonging

ACTIONS: to marry, have our own family, talk to friends & strangers, be a part of communities & groups – professional, religious, fraternities, gangs, clubs, sports….. – & to contribute to society.

Providing social needs advances our tribal nature. Pamela Rutledge wrote that none of Levels 1-4 needs can be met without social connection & collaboration, without which there is no ‘continuing’ of the group. In the distant past small bands of humans could not have been able to build a secure structure, defeat a woolly mammoth, or care for children while hunting – without a team effort.

It’s even more true now. Our reliance on each other grows as societies have become more complex & specialized. Connection is a prerequisite for physical & emotional survival. (Social Networks: What Maslow Misses)

However – traditional social structures & support systems are rare in our modern society, making it very difficult to form & sustain long-term relationships. We’ve ignored or forgotten the importance to our well-being of safe & – encompassing, enjoyable, enlivening, encouraging – neighborhoods. The sexual revolution, increased mobility, unemployment & the breakdown of the family have left many feeling disconnected & unfulfilled.

Maslow said that unmet needs at Level 3 are the primary cause for mental disorders. “We have largely forgotten our deep animal tendencies to herd, to flock, to join, to belong.” These needs suggest why consumers gravitate to such events as Jimmy Buffett’s Parrotheads, or choose brands like the Harley H.O.G, which encourage a sense of connection & belonging.

Truly healthy family are a treasure – but rare. In 2016 an analysis of Maslow’s Level 3 revealed that most people have a great deal of generalized anxiety.
We see being part of a community (even an unhealthy one) as protection, so are deeply afraid of being rejected by whatever group is important to them. Unfortunately, fear-based stuckness – in unhealthy family, religious, work… environments – leads to a psychological dead-end street, preventing or slowing personal & social growth.

RESPONSES:  One way to foster connections & community is to teach young people social & emotional skills which will contribute to improved academic achievement, & later to participating more easily in whatever social settings they choose.
Todd Helmus in Science Daily wrote that (social visionaries) “contend that we need a ‘whole-child’ approach to education that aims to nurture the full range of skills & capacities that will help children of today become healthy, competent future adults……”

An evidence-based social & emotional learning (SEL) curriculum was given in inner city schools to children in grades 3-6. Many participating students showed improvement in reading, writing & math – on independently administered state mastery tests given in later grades (compared to students who had been in control groups). (PATHS: Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies) 

✦ An obvious response to our emotionally & physically shattered communal life – is the global passion for social media. The need for connection is so strong that we spend (too?) much of our time glued to tablets & iPhones. The irony is that the machine has displaced face-to-face interactions, but apps like Skype & WhatApp help

✦ At the same time – long-standing in-person groups such as all 12-Step Programs (AA, OA, GA, DA… & their companion groups Al-Anon,  O-anon, Gam-anon…..) have been highly successful both for their healing power & for emotions/social connectedness. Now, phone meetings are also available

✦ MeetUp, started in NYC, is another successful in-person organization providing small group participation around hundreds of topics for like-minded adults (psychology, networking, dating, arts, food, sports…..)

✦ Active synagogues, churches & mosques, as well as non-traditional spiritual or healing groups also fill the gap

NEXT: Maslow Level 4

PREVIOUS: Level 1 needs

TRADITIONAL VERSION (cont)
Level 1. PHYSICAL Needs

Level 2. SAFETY
Security – physical & psychological needs which can never be ‘perfectly’ satisfied.
People constantly try to predict the future to help decide what to do next, or over the long term. If we predict the likelihood of coming to some harm, we’ll feel unsafe. The greater the potential danger – the greater the fear.
So Security Needs have to do with people’s yearning for a predictable & orderly world where their sense of unfairness & inconsistency are under control, the familiar frequent & the unfamiliar rare. This can translate into a desire for order, health & peace.

This level definitely applies to children, who are very vulnerable, & so have a legitimate need for security. When that’s not available, they can develop anxiety, & the drive to feel safe becomes a life-long desperate pursuit.
In the absence of physical protection, as in war, natural disasters, domestic abuse or trauma…. people can develop PTSD & addictions, & then pass it on to following generations. EXP: fear of abandonment (FoA) leads to people-pleasing, avoidant attachment or isolation….

However, when this level is adequately provided for in childhood, adults don’t usually think about it much, except in times of personal threat or social turmoil. But since a true feeing of security is rare in the world, responsible adults do find various ways to cover important personal & family protection needs.

Safety – This is the feeling we get from knowing no harm will come to us, physically, mentally or emotionally – to live without stress and worry. Fulfilling these needs can makes us feel assured that even if big problems happen, we’ll still be OK. Safety factors can include —

• Physical: health care, safety nets against accidents, illness & their debilitating effects – such as car & health insurance, burglar alarms….
Also – better quality food, vitamins, medicine, household products….
& being free from physical & sexual abuse
• Personal : general well-being – housing / property, a stable life-style, safe neighborhoods

• Psychological : external protection from prejudice, bullying, taunting, teasing …. and internally – eliminating all forms of cruel self-talk, negative projections & victimhood
• Emotional : being free of verbal abuse, emotional blackmail, threats of abandonment, silence as punishment……

• Social: protection for one’s family, being part of a community, law-&-order-morality, protection from criminals….
• Work / financial: job opportunities & job stability (often chosen over job satisfaction), saving accounts, pension / retirement plans….
• Spiritual: a close connection with Higher Power, trusting in the safety of faith in an unsure world

COMMENTS from HCCUA    (re. healthcare costs )
“Adults require the same basic needs fulfilled – as children – before the next level becomes a priority. Many people spend their entire lives looking for employment & financial resources, without ever having the desire to express themselves artistically or be recognized by their peers for social contributions.”

So things like art lessons may not be the best choice if one is struggling with money issues, lack of employment or the possibility of losing one’s home. And it’s unlikely that imagination, social contributions, inventions or other achievement will be their priorities (#4 & 5)

✦ The Pyramid hierarchy does not negate being able to enjoy some things from higher levels unless we have all of the elements below it in place, only that a sense of fulfillment won’t occur until that happens.

If someone is constantly chasing esteem & respect, chances are they’re not very concerned with morality & truth (#5), only about their own situation & needs. They might have some interest in those qualities, but their sense of fulfillment will come when the previous levels are sufficiently met – if at all –  such as being respected & admired.

By noticing where each member of the family is on Maslow’s Pyramid, parents can more easily address the needs of their children, & mates can help each other move to a higher level of personal fulfillment. Likewise, couples have to feels safe with each other before they can move into true intimacy & sexual fulfillment (#3 & 4).

NEXT: Maslow Level 3