fei75766_ch09_271-308.indd 299  02/06/20 12:09 PM
Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory299
falsehumility tostifle creativity, andthustheyprevent themselves from becoming 
self-actualizing.
Psychotherapy
ToMaslow (1970), theaimoftherapy would beforclients toembrace theBeing-
values, thatis,tovalue truth, justice, goodness, simplicity, andsoforth. Toaccom -
plish thisaim,clients must befreefrom theirdependency onothers sothattheir
natural impulse toward growth andself-actualization could become active. Psycho -
therapy cannot bevalue freebutmust takeintoconsideration thefactthateveryone 
hasaninherent tendency tomove toward abetter, more enriching condition, namely, 
self-actualization. 
Thegoals ofpsychology follow from theclient’s position onthehierarchy of
needs. Because physiological andsafety needs areprepotent, people operating on
these levels willnotordinarily bemotivated toseekpsychotherapy. Instead, theywill
strive toobtain nourishment andprotection.
Most people whoseektherapy havethese twolower levelneeds relatively well
satisfied buthavesome difficulty achieving loveandbelongingness needs. Therefore, 
psychotherapy islargely aninterpersonal process. Through awarm, loving, interper -
sonal relationship withthetherapist, theclient gains satisfaction ofloveandbelong -
ingness needs andthereby acquires feelings ofconfidence andself-worth. Ahealthy 
interpersonal relationship between client andtherapist istherefore thebestpsycho -
logical medicine. Thisaccepting relationship gives clients afeeling ofbeing worthy 
ofloveandfacilitates theirability toestablish other healthy relationships outside of
therapy. Thisviewofpsychotherapy isnearly identical tothatofCarlRogers, aswe
discuss inChapter 10.
Related Research
Asyoujustread, oneofthemost notable aspects ofMaslow’s theory ofpersonality 
istheconcept ofahierarchy ofneeds. Some needs such asphysiological andsafety 
needs arelower order needs, whereas needs such asesteem andself-actualization 
arehigher order needs .Generally speaking, according toMaslow’s theory, the
lower order needs must bemetearly inlife,whereas thehigher order needs such as
self-actualization tendtobefulfilled laterinlife.
Researchers havetested thisaspect ofMaslow’s theory bymeasuring need ful-
fillment inasample of1,749 people ofallagegroups (Reiss &Havercamp, 2005 ).In
thisstudy, participants completed aquestionnaire thatasked about theirfulfillment 
ofneeds. These needs weredivided intotwotypes ofmotivation: lower motivation 
(e.g., eating andphysical exercise) andhigher motivation (e.g., honor, family, andide-
alism). Theresults supported Maslow’s theory. Theresearchers found thatthelower 
motives werestronger inyounger people, whereas thehigher motives werestronger in
older people. Recall thatinorder tofocus onfulfilling thehighest order needs such
asesteem andself-actualization, people must firsthavefulfilled thelower order needs. 
Therefore, asMaslow theorized andasReiss andHavercamp (2005 )found, ifpeople Final PDF to printer