"Maslow saw human beings' needs arranged like a ladder. The most basic needs, at the bottom, were physical -- air, water, food, sleep. Then came safety needs -- security, stability -- followed by psychological, or social needs -- for belonging, love, acceptance. Then, came esteem needs -- to feel achievement, status, responsibility, and reputation. At the top of it all were the self-actualizing needs -- the need to fulfill oneself, to become all that one is capable of becoming. Maslow felt that unfulfilled needs lower on the ladder would inhibit the person from climbing to the next step. Someone dying of thirst quickly forgets their thirst when they have no oxygen, as he pointed out. People who dealt in managing the higher needs were what he called self-actualizing people. In New York he found two more mentors,
anthropologist Ruth Benedict and Gestalt psychologist
Max Wertheimer, whom he admired both professionally and personally. These two were so accomplished in both realms, and such "wonderful human beings" as well, that Maslow began taking notes about them and their behavior. This would be the basis of his lifelong research and thinking about mental health and human potential. Benedict and Wertheimer were Maslow's models of self-actualization, from which he generalized that, among other characteristics, self-actualizing people tend to focus on problems outside of themselves, have a clear sense of what is true and what is phony, are spontaneous and creative, and are not bound too strictly by social conventions."
excerpt from Wikipedia
Speedtape's research on Human behavior:
Maslow's observations have merit. Moreover, most people seek a "Zone of Comfort," especially those who are not risk takers. Once a human reaches his safe, and secure "Zone of Comfort," he minimizes any actions that would move him out of the Zone. Therefore, this contributes to habits and a "laziness" or resistance to change. Furthermore, most people, especially non-risk takers, will not change their behavior or habits unless some external force or stimuli alters their safe environment, or Comfort Zone. Change the Comfort Zone, and behavior will change.
This economic environment is going to change human behavior on a mass scale. Unfortunately, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Are you ready for change?
