fei75766_ch09_271-308.indd 277  02/06/20 12:09 PM
Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory277
Despite achieving fame during the1960s, Maslow became increasingly dis-
enchanted withhislifeatBrandeis. Some students rebelled against histeaching 
methods, demanding more experiential involvement andlessofanintellectual and
scientific approach.
Inaddition towork-related problems, Maslow suffered asevere butnonfatal 
heart attack inDecember 1967. Hethenlearned thathisstrange malady more than
20years earlier hadbeen anundiagnosed heart attack. Now inpoor health anddisap -
pointed withtheacademic atmosphere atBrandeis, Maslow accepted anoffer tojoin
theSagaAdministrative Corporation inMenlo Park, California. Hehadnoparticu -
larjobthere andwasfreetothink andwrite ashewished. Heenjoyed thatfreedom, 
butonJune8,1970, hesuddenly collapsed anddiedofamassive heart attack. He
was62.
Maslow received many honors during hislifetime, including hiselection tothe
presidency oftheAmerican Psychological Association fortheyear1967–1968. At
thetimeofhisdeath, hewaswellknown, notonlywithin theprofession ofpsychol -
ogybutalsoamong educated people, particularly inbusiness management, market -
ing,theology, counseling, education, nursing, andother health-related fields.
Maslow’s personal lifewasfilled withpain, bothphysical andpsychological. As
anadolescent, hewasterribly shy,unhappy, isolated, andself-rejecting. Inlateryears, 
hewasoften inpoorphysical health, suffering from aseries ofailments, including 
chronic heart problems. Hisjournals (Maslow, 1979) aresprinkled withreferences 
topoorhealth. Inhislastjournal entry (May 7,1970), amonth before hisdeath, he
complained about people expecting himtobeacourageous leader andspokesperson. 
Hewrote: “Iamnottemperamentally ‘courageous’ .Mycourageisreally anovercoming 
ofallsortsofinhibitions, politeness, gentleness, timidities—and italways costmealot
infatigue, tension, apprehension, badsleep” (p.1307).
Maslow’s View of Motivation
Maslow’s theory ofpersonality restsonseveral basic assumptions regarding moti-
vation. First, Maslow (1970) adopted aholistic approach to motivation: Thatis,the
whole person, notanysingle partorfunction, ismotivated.
Second, motivation is usually complex, meaning thataperson’s behavior may
spring from several separate motives. Forexample, thedesire forsexual union may
bemotivated notonlybyagenital need butalsobyneeds fordominance, companion -
ship, love,andself-esteem. Moreover, themotivation forabehavior maybeuncon -
scious orunknown totheperson. Forexample, themotivation foracollege student to
make ahighgrade maymask theneed fordominance orpower. Maslow’s acceptance 
oftheimportance ofunconscious motivation represents oneimportant wayinwhich 
hediffered from Gordon Allport (Chapter 12).Whereas Allport might saythata
person plays golfjustforthefunofit,Maslow would lookbeneath thesurface for
underlying andoften complex reasons forplaying golf.
Athird assumption isthatpeople are continually motivated by one need or 
another. When oneneed issatisfied, itordinarily loses itsmotivational power and
isthenreplaced byanother need. Forexample, aslongaspeople’s hunger needs are
frustrated, theywillstrive forfood; butwhen theydohaveenough toeat,theymove 
ontoother needs suchassafety, friendship, andself-worth.Final PDF to printer