fei75766_ch09_271-308.indd 283  02/06/20 12:09 PM
Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory283
Maslow (1968b, 1970) believed thathealthy people desire toknow more, to
theorize, totesthypotheses, touncover mysteries, ortofindouthowsomething 
works justforthesatisfaction ofknowing. However, people whohavenotsatisfied 
theircognitive needs, whohavebeen consistently liedto,havehadtheircuriosity 
stifled, orhavebeen denied information, become pathological, apathology thattakes 
theform ofskepticism, disillusionment, andcynicism. 
Neurotic Needs
Thesatisfaction ofconative, aesthetic, andcognitive needs isbasic toone’s physical 
andpsychological health, andtheirfrustration leads tosome levelofillness. How -
ever, neurotic needs leadonlytostagnation andpathology (Maslow, 1970).
Bydefinition, neurotic needs arenonproductive. They perpetuate anunhealthy 
styleoflifeandhavenovalue inthestriving forself-actualization. Neurotic needs are
usually reactive; thatis,theyserve ascompensation forunsatisfied basic needs. For
example, aperson whodoesnotsatisfy safety needs maydevelop astrong desire to
hoard money orproperty. Thehoarding drive isaneurotic need thatleads topathol -
ogywhether ornotitissatisfied. Similarly, aneurotic person maybeabletoestablish 
aclose relationship withanother person, butthatrelationship maybeaneurotic, sym-
biotic onethatleads toapathological relationship rather thangenuine love.Maslow 
(1970) presented yetanother example ofaneurotic need. Aperson strongly motivated 
bypower canacquire nearly unlimited power, butthatdoesnotmake theperson less
neurotic orlessdemanding ofadditional power. “Itmakes littledifference forultimate 
health whether aneurotic need begratified orfrustrated” (Maslow, 1970, p.274).
General Discussion of Needs
Itisimportant topoint out,progression uptheladder orstaircase ofneeds isnotall
ornone before thenextlevelcanbeattained. Maslow (1943, 1970) argued thatit
isbetter tothink ofdecreasing percentages ofsatisfaction aswemove upthehier-
archy. Forexample, heestimated thatthehypothetical average person hashisor
herneeds satisfied toapproximately these levels: physiological, 85%; safety, 70%; 
loveandbelongingness, 50%; esteem, 40%; andself-actualization, 10%. Themore 
alower levelneed issatisfied, thegreater theemergence ofthenext-levelneed. For
example, ifloveneeds areonly10%satisfied, thenesteem needs maynotbeactive 
atall.Butifloveneeds are25%satisfied, thenesteem mayemerge 5%asaneed. If
loveis75%satisfied, thenesteem mayemerge 50%, andsoon.Needs, therefore, 
emerge gradually, andaperson maybesimultaneously motivated byneeds from two
ormore levels. Forexample, aself-actualizing person maybethehonorary guest at
adinner given byclose friends inapeaceful restaurant. Theactofeating gratifies 
aphysiological need; butatthesame time, theguest ofhonor maybesatisfying 
safety, love, esteem, andself-actualization needs. Moreover, because Maslow said
these hypothetical percentages were forthe“average citizen,” theimplication isthe
percentages would change fortheself-actualizing person, suchthathigher percent -
agesofneeds would bemet.Forexample, aself-actualizing person maybeat95%for
physiological, 85%forsafety, 75%forloveandbelongingness, 65%foresteem, and
55%forself-actualization. Final PDF to printer