Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow
One of the founders of humanistic psychology, best known for his hierarchy of needs theory. He proposed that human needs range from basic physiological needs to self-actualization, and emphasized human potential and growth.
Details
Abraham Maslow (1908–1970)
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist and a central figure in humanistic psychology. He led what became known as the third force in psychology, offering an alternative to the then-dominant psychoanalytic and behaviorist approaches.
Maslow’s most famous contribution is the hierarchy of needs. He organized human needs into five levels: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem needs, and self-actualization. He argued that lower-level needs must be reasonably satisfied before a person can pursue higher-level ones.
He was particularly interested in studying psychologically healthy individuals and the traits of self-actualizers—people who perceive reality clearly, are creative, form deep interpersonal relationships, and frequently have peak experiences. By focusing on human potential and growth rather than pathology, Maslow broadened the scope of psychology.
💡 Real-Life Example
“What a man can be, he must be.” — Maslow’s famous statement captures the drive toward self-actualization: becoming the fullest version of oneself.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.