The Pursuit Of Happiness

 


Abraham Maslow, a noted psychologist, presented a hierarchy of human needs. His idea was that for a person to live up to his or her potential, or self-actualizing fulfillment, certain needs must be satisfied:

  1. physical (food, clothing, shelter);
  2. social-affectional (love needs that provide genuine support and nurturance);
  3. self-esteem/dignity (equality needs—we need self-respect and the respect of others); and
  4. self-actualizing or creativity needs (finding and pursuing those activities most suited for each individual)
If all of these needs are met, then a person should be fulfilled. The problem is that many people are at levels one through three and rarely attain level four. Our society, which is a consumer society, tends to find our self-esteem in what we buy, yet true happiness has to come from inside us, developing our life’s purpose, or following our bliss, as Joseph Campbell, a cultural anthropologist, stated.

QUESTION

Does Maslow’s hierarchy make sense to you in your life or in our society? Is it important to meet all four levels of needs to be happy? Why?