Maslow’s Unacknowledged Contributions to Developmental Psychology

Abstract

Few readily identify Maslow as a developmental psychologist. On the other hand, Maslow’s call for holistic/systemic, phenomenological, and dynamic/relational developmental perspectives in psychology (all being alternatives to the limitations of the dominant natural science paradigm) anticipated what emerged both as and in the subdiscipline of developmental psychology. In this article, we propose that Maslow’s dynamic systems approach to healthy human development served as a forerunner for classic and contemporary theory and research on parallel constructs in developmental psychology that provide empirical support for his ideas—particularly those affiliated with characteristics of psychological health (i.e., self-actualization) and the conditions that promote or inhibit it. We also explore Maslow’s adaptation of Goldstein’s concept of self-actualization, in which he simultaneously: (a) explicated a theory of safety versus growth that accounts for the two-steps-forward-one-step-back contiguous dynamic that realistically characterizes the ongoing processes of being-in-becoming and psychological integration in human development/maturity and (b) emphasized being-in-the-world-with-others with the intent of facilitating the development of an ideal society by promoting protective factors that illustrate Maslow’s safety, belonging, and esteem needs. Finally, we dialogue with the extant literature to clarify common misgivings about Maslow’s ideas.

The Personal Hero Technique: A Therapeutic Strategy That Promotes Self-Transformation and Interdependence

“…Furthermore, consistent with the humanistic conceptualization of self as perpetually in a state of becoming (see Bland & DeRobertis, 2017a, 2017b), Kinsella et al (2017) noted that heroes prompt “reflection on the eudaimonic questions of, “How should I live? What do I really want?’” and thereby “direct individuals’ attention toward more new goals,” helping “set the bar in terms of what is possible for them to achieve in their lives” (pp.…”

“…Indeed, Zimbardo’s (2007) portrayal of heroes mirrors Maslow’s (1971, 1987, 1999) characteristics of self-actualizing individuals, as summarized in Figure 1. Comparable to Maslow’s (1999; also see Bland & DeRobertis, 2017b) description of self-actualizing people as embodying both social interest and propriate striving, heroes inspire others to “shift focus away from individual concerns, [redirect] toward a world-focus perspective, . .…”

“…Throughout the debriefing I employ active listening skills as well as influencing skills (e.g., immediacy, confrontation of discrepancies, constructive feedback, information giving, self-disclosure, etc., see Skovholt & Rivers, 2007) as appropriate. The influencing skills should especially be employed in instances during which clients demonstrate negative feedback loops (i.e., regression to the familiar in the face of change) and where encouragement is warranted to promote their continued movement toward growth (as opposed to recoiling to homeostatic safety, see Bland & DeRobertis, 2017b; Maslow, 1999) as well as a greater sense of intentionality (see May, 1969). Thereafter, the PHT can serve as a valuable reference point for clients as they encounter setbacks during subsequent phases of therapy.…”

Getting along And/Or Getting Ahead: Differential Hexaco Personality Correlates of Likeability and Popularity among Adolescents

“…During this period, in which adolescents start their transition from a parent‐dependent childhood to a peer‐interdependent adulthood, fulfilling peer belongingness needs constitutes an important adaptive developmental problem (e.g. Bland & DeRobertis, ). This adaptive problem can be tackled by adolescents through two reputational pathways, one through likeability and the other through popularity (Cillessen & Marks, ; Sandstrom & Cillessen, ).…”

The Impact of A Marriage Checkup With Transgender Couples

“…Maslow held that relationship quality was a key element of well-being (Bland & DeRobertis, 2017). Research has subsequently supported this assertation.…”