The Pyramid That Wasn't: The Truth Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs
The story of how Maslow's theory became what it was not
There are few ideas as popular as Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the pyramid that it is drawn as.
The pyramid has become a staple theory in the field of psychology and has been particularly popular in management studies and human resources.
Yet, most people don’t know that the pyramid was never drawn by Maslow himself. In fact, he was not sure if his theory could be accurately depicted in the form of a diagram at all.
In today’s story, we dive deep into the story behind Abraham Maslow’s actual theory of the hierarchy of human needs and the birth of a pyramid that never was.
Abraham Maslow & The Hierarchy of Needs
Before I tell you about what the hierarchy of needs (HON) is not, it is important that you understand what it is — or at least, what we are told it is.
If you go by the traditional textbooks, HON is a theory about the various needs that humans have which motivates their behavior. These needs start right from the basic needs of food and water to the ultimate aim of self-actualization wherein a person realizes their full potential.
As each need gets fulfilled, people move on to the next need in steps, as if they are climbing up a pyramid.
At least that is what we were taught.
The reality, as Maslow intended it, is a lot more nuanced.
The Hierarchy Takes Shape
Maslow first proposed his theory in 1943 at a conference and published it later the same year. There was no mention of a pyramid, or any other geometric shape to exhibit his theory in the paper.
Something more interesting happened at the conference though. A young management professor named Douglas McGregor was mightily impressed by Maslow’s theory.
Being from a management background, McGregor was naturally interested in understanding what motivated humans to behave the way they did and how this motivation could be maintained in an office setting.
The following year, inspired by Maslow’s work, he proposed the Theory X and Y of human behavior.
Maslow considered McGregor’s work ‘a great job’ and with that, the everlasting relationship between Maslow’s theory and management studies was born.
McGregor, Management, and Maslow
McGregor ended up becoming the bridge between management studies and Maslow’s theory of HON. The problem was that the way McGregor represented Maslow’s theory was often over-generalized, lacking self-critique, and simplified.
For example, McGregor reported that human behavior was driven by various needs and once a need was met, it eventually stopped driving human behavior. So if a person has secured food, water, and shelter, the prospect of working for those things will not motivate a worker.
Maslow did not believe that.
For Maslow, human life was about being in a constant state of becoming the best version one could be. It was not a video game that one could complete levels on. It was a constant struggle.
Maslow’s actual thoughts may have been too complicated for management students and were thus conveniently omitted.
Building on the already simplified version of Maslow’s theory, management professors started trying to make Maslow’s theory easier to grasp and memorable — and there is nothing more memorable than a shape.
The Pyramid is Born
The first pyramid-like depiction of Maslow’s theory of HON was in 1960 by Charles McDermid, a consultant psychologist working with corporates to improve employee performance.
This came 17 years after the original theory was proposed.
At the time the pyramid had to compete with another metaphor, that of a ladder but ultimately the pyramid won out. Some believe it is due to the completeness the pyramid offers.
A pyramid makes it seem like human growth has a natural end point whereas a ladder still leaves room for further climbs.
Throughout the history of the pyramid, there is a noticeable ‘productization’ of a complex theory of human motivation. What started with some simple omissions by McGregor from Maslow’s theory has led to a point where it is now a caricature of its true version.
There is no “Maslow’s Pyramid”
Maslow never drew a pyramid. He never meant for his theory to be shown as a pyramid. Yet, today, when you think of Maslow, you think of a pyramid.
There are loads of criticisms that come up when discussing the HON today. It is too simplistic. It is unidirectional. It doesn’t take in the complexities of human life.
Maslow knew all of that. He anticipated these criticisms which is why he made it a point to not portray it as a shape or a simple diagram.
Yet, it doesn’t seem like history will ever let the two ideas separate from each other. The two are too strongly associated with each other.
Maslow, despite his best attempts at understanding the human struggle for growth, happiness, and prosperity will end up being a man who drew a five-step pyramid about human motivation.
And that is it for this week! I was surprised to know that Maslow never drew a pyramid in his theory. I knew I had to share this story with you immediately.
Interestingly, I found a new model for the theory of HON proposed by Dr. Scott Barry Kauffman.
He calls it the boat model and you can read more about it here.
Do you think you will be able to disassociate Maslow from the figure of the pyramid? You can let me know in the comments or by replying to this email :)
Until next time,
Arjun
i am always amazed by your refreshing ideas! & you articulated it in such an efficient manner, great job!
Oh wow, that's interesting! The reality is so different from what we were taught. It may be difficult for me to dissociate Maslow from figure of the pyramid.