Abraham Maslow proposed what has become an almost definitive model of self-actualization with his theory of a hierarchy of needs. It is based heavily on Western and individualistic ideals of personal growth that de-emphasize the importance of relatedness in selfactualization. Critiques of this Western notion of relatedness have come from feminist thinkers, existential philosophers, environmentalists, and more. In light of these critiques it seems prudent to rethink Maslow's hierarchy and his implicit assumptions about the health of autonomous living. Maslow is not dismissive of relatedness. His emphasis on relationships as vehicles for personal growth, however, is limited mostly to his discussion of peak experiences and those already highly self-actualized. The authors suggest here a modification to Maslow's hierarchy that more fully considers positive views of relatedness. This new interpersonal model of self-actualization emphasizes the importance of relatedness as the substance of individual growth at all levels of psychological development. Implications of this theory for parenting, family life, community living, and creative expression are also discussed.

This study examined extended influences of peer helping courses on graduates’ self-reported experiences of interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and ongoing engagement with the training. The 109 participants included 49 college graduates who completed a peer counseling theory course, 47 graduated psychology concentrators who took a peer practicum that included both theory and supervised practice, and a comparison group of 13 graduated psychology concentrators who took neither peer counseling course. Participants in both peer training courses reported continuing effects on their interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and engagement with the training, with greatest effects reported by the psychology concentrators in both peer training courses. The small comparison group provided additional perspective on these findings. Suggestions for future research are offered, including potential benefits of more widespread utilization of college peer counselor training and the need for further follow-up studies on those who have been trained as peer counselors.