Years ago, Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs was a popular way of understanding human motivation and ourselves in general. His work was one of the first to look at what allowed people to thrive, rather than struggle in dysfunction, and preceded the field of positive psychology as we know it today. Beginning with a basic need to merely survive, Maslow showed how some people evolved beyond that to eventually arrive at a pinnacle: self-actualization. But while Maslow’s theory made a major contribution to developmental psychology, there are new theories replacing his. Could human happiness and motivation really be as simple as the three needs in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) or the six factors in The Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being? And is it really possible to know what we humans need to be happy?
First let me recap Maslow’s original five levels of human motivation. Much like the food charts from our youth, these five were considered a pyramid with #1 being wide at the bottom and then ascending narrowly to the top with #5. They are:
1. Physiological needs vital for survival like water, air, food and sleep
2. Security needs like safety, health care, a job and a home.
3. Social needs like belonging, love and affection.
4. Esteem needs like self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment.
5. Self-actualization needs concerned with awareness, spiritual insight and personal growth.
However, in the years that followed Maslow’s proposal, other psychologists have questioned its popularity as well as the evidence supporting it. The largest problem seems to come from the fact that Maslow arrived at his theory by interviewing only around 16 people he believed to be self-actualized like Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt. Plus according to others, his theory is highly individualistic and biased toward the U.S. population and does not appear to fit as easily into other cultures around the world. For example, there is evidence that people can still experience high personal worth, accomplishment, and a level of self-actualization even though their basic needs (#1) and safety needs (#2) are not completely fulfilled. Maslow implied that was impossible.
So who is correct? Some theories today insist that we possess up to 40 different needs that long to be fulfilled. However, one of the more popular theories in recent years comes from Professors Edward Deci and Richard Ryan who co-founded SDT. They propose only three needs that guide human intrinsic motivation. Remember, intrinsic means that the motivation is coming from within a person, rather than being influenced or forced upon them by either other people or society. The higher fulfillment of these three needs in a person’s life are believed to be necessary requirements for achieving psychological good health and well-being. They are:
1) Relatedness. Just last week I wrote a blog post about how important friends are to all of us. This need says that we each have a universal need to feel connected to and experience caring for others in order to experience wellbeing.
2) Competence. This need relates to our need to affect our environment and to achieve a sense of control and even mastery over our experiences.
3) Autonomy. This need is about freedom and the belief that a person can choose and direct their own experiences. And while we can all understand how freedom plays a big role in making us happy, it’s equally important to consider how lack of freedom can do the opposite.
So why is it important to consider these inherent motivations? In short, this theory makes it clear that unless our experiences contain these needs, our sense of happiness and well-being will be compromised. In other words, if you work at a job where you don’t like anyone you work with, you have little or no pride or sense of worth about your contribution, and you feel stuck and pressured, it won’t matter how much money you make—you won’t be happy. Or say you’ve become quite popular at school, but have no real friends, recognize that the system to be popular is randomly generated, and feel you only arrived at your notoriety because of forces beyond your control—your well-being will suffer. Ultimately, these needs point out that living a life focused on what matters most to your soul, always trumps doing things to impress others or because someone else told you it was important.
Professor Carol Ryff, who created a model of psychological well-being composed of six “scales” or factors, offers another popular theory very similar to the SDT needs. When used to evaluate how effectively these factors are present or absent in a person’s life, they provide the degree to which well-being exists. They are:
1. Self-acceptance
2. Relations with others
3. Autonomy in thought and actions
4. Environmental mastery
5. Purpose and meaning in life
6. Personal growth and development
Obviously the more that anyone can attest to the presence of a positive and high level of each essential trait in ones life, the better. For example, Ryff says that high self acceptance can be, “defined as a central feature of mental health as well as a characteristic of self-actualization, optimal functioning and maturity.” From there we can see that anyone who hates who they are or what they look like can be accused of weak functioning, poor maturity and hardly self-actualized.
What makes these two sets of qualities more relevant today is that they have been tested in other countries and evaluated among many more test subjects. In other words, no matter where in the world you go and who you ask, chances are very good that the fulfillment of all of these characteristics add up to a high-quality life.
So what does this mean to you and me? Again, I think it is important to recognize that even when the media or our culture tries to convince us that a fulfilled life means a never-aging youthful body, a big house, an expensive car, all sorts of material possessions along with power and prestige, it isn’t close to being true. Instead, what these studies and information does confirm is that what we really need can only be found by empowering ourselves to live deeply from the inside-out. And when it’s all said and done, maybe that is the SMART approach to true self-actualization.
Great post! Happiness is both an inside job and a matter of perspective and what we focus on – love and will share this. 🙂
Hi Tara! Yes, isn’t it interesting that what makes us happy is so individual based upon who we are and what we find valuable. One person’s acceptance and meaning and purpose can be so very different but as long as we have those elements we can be happy. I LOVE reminding myself and others that “we get to make it up!’ Thanks for your comment! ~Kathy
After several (too many) devastating losses my husband and I had trouble working through our grief and were feeling sorry for ourselves. We finally decided that for as many tragic events in our lives we had twice as many blessings like 13 healthy grandchildren and so much more. Once we decided to be happy, mindful and grateful we have never been better. It is a learning experience but the change happens quickly once your mind is made up to be happy.
Hi Doreen! I don’t think we ever forget the losses completely but I do think at some point we have to make the choice that you and your husband made. Either we stay focused on the grief or we stay focused on the future. I’m glad you’ve found a way that works for you both. ~Kathy
I remember learning about this in college. I was super impressed with it then and still am. Thanks for reminding me of it. It’s wonderful to be reminded of how much I loved that class!
Hi Carolann! Welcome to SMART Living and I’m glad to remind you of something you enjoyed. The trick of course is to remember it all right? Thanks for stopping by. ~Kathy
I have to agree. There are so many aspects in life that change our view of not only our own lives, but that of others around us. We all wanted to feel safe, loved, validated and smart and when those needs are constantly met we find true happiness. The other thing I think about is that some people could have complete happiness, but they just don’t see it right in front of them.
Hi Rena! So true. As you say I think that many people just can’t see the good that’s staring them in the face. Maybe that’s one reason why I continue to write about it so much–hoping I can snap people awake! 🙂 I truly believe that we all do want (and need) the same basic things and then from there we can be about as happy as we can choose. ~Kathy
I don’t think I’ve reached self-actualization or if I ever will, but I’ve certainly got the self acceptance and autonomy. And I’m happy. I could wish for more, but that would be wishing for wants, when I already have all I need.
Like everyone, I do want things, but the wanting is reasonably fleeting.
Hi River! I think there are varying degrees of self-actualization so who knows? Just that you are self aware enough to wonder is a big step. Plus, I think self acceptance and a feeling of autonomy are big parts of it to. Surely a big part of this all is knowing the difference between our wants and I needs? You are probably further than you might think! ~Kathy
I remember reading about Maslow way back in Pysch 101 1n college. I am glad to hear that it has been updated, like your comparison to the food pyramid!
Hi Haralee! Yes, who would have thought that some of that stuff that we learned way back when could still be sort of relevant today? I think it is helpful to compare and contrast it with more current information don’t you think? And I can also tell where your mind is at liking the reference to the food pyramid! ~Kathy
Great post Kathy!!
I was of course familiar with Maslow’s pyramid, but the later theories had escaped me.
That being said, my initial instincts would move more towards Professor Ryff’s quantitative musings than Deci and Ryan’s. I would then take it one step further and reduce Ryff’s 6 degree scale down to just 3: Self-acceptance; Autonomy in thought and actions; Purpose and meaning in life.
With these three factors I believe the other 3 Ryff declares, are results of the three I mentioned…with varying degrees of causality and consequence of course.
All this type of archetype behavior makes me want to dig out my old Emile Durkheim texts which I haven’t read in a dog’s age 🙂
Thanks again and take care. My best to all.
Lyle
Hi Lyle! Yes isn’t it good to go back and revisit some of the things we remember learning from our past. I was delighted to see updated thoughts about Maslow along with new ways of thinking about it and processing. I agree with you about blending some of Ryff’s scale down is a good choice and something lots of others were doing as well. What’s most important I think is to think and consider them on a personal level. And I haven’t heard the name Emile Durkheim in many years either! Thanks for the reminder. ~Kathy
Durkheim Rocks!! 🙂
Lyle
I’m presently doing an online course on Happiness, Kathy. Who ever heard of courses in happiness a few years ago. I’m often struck by how my maid has to work so hard to make ends meet that she works in so many houses (really at level 1 and 2 of Maslow’s Theory). She’s had a hard life, but despite it all she smiles and laughs, unlike many of us who are so much more blessed. At the end of the day, happiness is a choice!
Hi Corinne! How great you are teaching a course on happiness! I don’t think there is a better subject that all of us could study than that because it is such a rich and important understanding that most of us don’t think about enough. And thank you for providing an excellent example of someone who doesn’t appear to have much like maid, yet has a joyful attitude in spite of it all. We can CHOOSE! ~Kathy
I love the updates on Maslow’s ideas. Self-acceptance and environmental mastery would be at the top of my list and if we all could focus on those life would be calmer and love felt by more of us.
Great post.
Hi Beth! Yes, interesting stuff huh? And I really like the idea of SDT (self-determination theory) right? It reminds me so clearly that my happiness depends more on my quality of those three things than anything outside of me. And as many of the other commenters mention, having our basic survival needs taken care of surely make it easier. But even then our well-being is still largely up to us. ~Kathy
I enjoyed reading this. And I agree that material things are seriously overrated when it comes to producing happiness. I do want to say that if a person is suffering from a lack of physical necessities, it’s probably going to interfere with their happiness to some extent. Being hungry or cold or in pain is stressful. Things like having a sense of your own worth and having loving relationships to sustain you are going to help you cope with the stress, obviously. It would be a whole lot worse to be hungry, cold, or in pain, and also be alone. Or to feel that your situation was your own fault, that you had failed. Material things beyond basic necessities, though, are another matter. Sometimes they can help you to achieve your goals – like having the right tool to do a project you want to do – but other than that, they’re not really what’s important.
Hi Carol! Yes I agree that not having your basics covered (like food and clean water) makes it really, really hard to focus on the higher qualities and that is likely the point that Maslow was making with his chart. But then you do look around and see happiness and contentment with people who have very little (certainly much less than what I have) and they can still be happy. Or like G Angela said in her comment below, Victor Frankl while in the Nazi Death Camps still managed to hold on to his sense of self and stay optimistic that he would survive. Certainly not easy. But possible. As you say, keeping in mind what is REALLY important to us is a key. Thanks for your thoughts on this. ~Kathy
Hi Carol! I do agree that getting those basic needs is very important and easy to dismiss when we them already. And as I’m sure you’ve read too, lots of other positive psychology researchers like Shawn Achor and Daniel Gilbert write frequently about how important it is to get those things like food, water and shelter covered before we can achieve what most of us U.S. citizens believe to be “happy.”
But I did find it fascinating to consider that there are examples of happiness even in the most meager of surroundings. That isn’t to tell people that they don’t deserve the basics because I tend to believe we ALL DESERVE those things…but to remind myself and all of us that the real key to happiness still isn’t all that stuff outside ourselves. What I found really important in the new studies of needs theory is that even with nothing some people are able to feel good about themselves, their lives and what they have. Certainly not easy, but possible. It’s another powerful reminder (as G Angela pointed out in her comment) that even a person like Vicktor Fankl in the Nazi death camps found something powerful to live for because he found it within himself. That’s something I strive for myself. To be so centered within that I can handle and live with anything on the outside.
Thanks for your thoughts on this! ~Kathy
Great post, Kathy! While Mazlow’s Ladder is still applicable, we have grown to a deeper understanding of what we need to be truly happy. And all the new studies, as you’ve beautifully included here, point to happiness truly being an inside job. I just love, “what we really need can only be found by empowering ourselves to live deeply from the inside-out. ”
So true!
And The Grant Study the study (which followed a group of men through their entire lives!) found that “the capacity to love and be loved was the single strength most clearly associated with subjective well-being at age eighty.”
Isn’t that cool!
I’m so happy to have found your blog! Thank you.
Hi Susan! Yes I definitely agree that the new “needs theories” just help flesh out the whole concept in a deeper way. While there is plenty of evidence that having our basic needs covered help free us to be able to truly explore the real meaning of happiness (from Maslow), the new stuff adds a richer dimension to the discussion because it shows how powerful the psyche is even in spite of the meagerness of some of our surroundings. We CAN BE happy no matter what. Not easy but possible. And yes, that Grant Study you mention is such a powerful reminder that loving is really more important than anything. Thanks for your thoughts. ~Kathy
Very interesting post Kathy, I agree with all that you say here. I remembered victor Frankel who survived in the Nazi camp, and the book he wrote called “Man search for meaning”. I read it years ago and one of the things he says is “everything can be taken away from man, but one thing is the human freedom to choose an attitude in a given set of circumstances …..” I think that’s the motivation that comes from within, the intrinsic one …. also remembered Stephen covey who spoke about the inside out and choice to be proactive…. nice to connect, and am learning so much from you. thanks
Hi G Angela! I’m so glad to know that others find this as interesting as I do. While most of it isn’t new or surprising, I don’t think I can hear it enough. I like to be reminded over and over to look within for my happiness and wellbeing and I tend to think there are others (like you and me) that enjoy it as well. If someone like Victor Frankl can go through what he did and still be an optimist, then surely so can I! ~Kathy
Great post. I have never put that much importance on material things for happiness. It doesn\’t work fpr me. If I don\’t feel good in my gut about something, \”stuff\” won\’t help. Only inner peace, patience and staying in the moment helps. And of course being with people who are supportive.
Hi Amy! While I think most of us know this information on an intuitive level, I found it really interesting to see it so supported by current science. And yet, even though science now supports it and we all know it, it is still easy for many of us to still pursue things that just look good on the outside. That’s why I think we need to remind ourselves over and over again. And yes! Hang out with people who do that too! ~Kathy
Yes, reminders are necessary to stay aware of what is truly important. It is difficult for some people to change their ways even when science says the change is needed. It’s up to us to make it happen. Have a great weekend.
Loved your post. Indeed, being true to oneself is the essence of true happiness.
Hi Jyoti! Thank you. Let’s all try to remember every day what leads to true happiness! ~Kathy