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Analyzing Maslow's model of motivation from the perspective of Objectivism

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Maslow’s theory of motivation claims that first motivators are physiological factors like food, shelter, etc., after that safety factors like rule of law and insurance(protection in general), then meaningful social relationships, then social status and reputation, and finally an individual’s need to find himself or herself. The final one being self-actualization.

From OEFO perspective, not a chosen few, but all adults are or should be motivated by self-actualization (OEFO refers to my book “Organizational Ethics from Objectivism”, from which the snippet is taken). The Central Purpose of Life (CPL) in Objectivist Ethics is quite similar to the concept of self-actualization. Other needs in Maslow’s model, ranging from physiological, safety-related, social, and emotional should be inferred and adjusted based on the CPL. For example, a CEO of an organizations will need a bigger social circle than a scientist(generally speaking), since the latter focuses more on in-depth study, and the former more on collaborative actions for building products and services. Safety is a negative factor and should not be the primary motivation. E.g., retiring early without having any clear CPL is not right. Also, the emotional part of the self should be fuelled using art or sports, such that one is sufficiently motivated to move towards their CPL. The same criteria is true for personal and other relationships. The contribution of each relationship towards the CPL should be evaluated.

True, there are adults who have very destructive CPLs. Communism in Soviet Russia and elsewhere, Socialism in Nazi Germany, or many Socialist intellectuals and politicians of the Indian Left are a few of the examples of those having destructive CPLs. Also, among millennials, the non-productive purpose of enjoying as an ultimate end is popular. However, this too is not right as a Central Virtue, because it’s not derived from the Virtue of Productivity: The creation of products and services as a priority. These CPLs can be contrasted from the CPLs of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates 1.0, the founding fathers of America, Walt Disney, Narendra Modi, etc. Overall, irrespective of the value or the disvalue of CPL, the fact remains that humans are, or should be motivated by purpose.
 
 

Maslow's-Model.png

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A more elaborate explanation is here

https://medium.com/@rohingupta2k18/reinventing-maslows-model-of-motivation-5cdc0d173caf?fbclid=IwAR1A2QxMa6NfYpUeu_zkYQJPbPtDnWIdKzl5szrk3aTXobSQD3FQEiL97Yc

P.S: The Maslow's model of motivation is widely quoted in many influential books of management. I use Objectivist Ethics, concept of Central Purpose of Life in particular, to improve the model and its application.

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On 4/13/2019 at 10:24 PM, RohinGupta said:

Safety is a negative factor and should not be the primary motivation.

Have you led a sheltered life, never having had any substantial experience of living with danger?  

From an abstract perspective, in Rand's essay "The Ethics of Emergencies" she writes:

Quote

In an emergency situation, men's primary goal is to combat the disaster, escape the danger and restore normal conditions (to reach dry land, to put out the fire, etc.).

This even uses the word "primary".  Rand and Maslow are highly compatible on this topic.

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In an emergency situation, men's primary goal is to combat the disaster, escape the danger and restore normal conditions (to reach dry land, to put out the fire, etc.).

This even uses the word "primary".  Rand and Maslow are highly compatible on this topic.

 

 

 

 

If you read full article "Ethics of Emergencies", she also says that Emergency situations should not be the core motivation of Ethics (paraphrasing). In fact, Altruism fails because most of the times it uses such situations to  justify sacrifice and Win-Lose relationships.
Edited by RohinGupta
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1 hour ago, RohinGupta said:

If you read full article "Ethics of Emergencies", she also says that Emergency situations should not be the core motivation of Ethics (paraphrasing). In fact, Altruism fails because most of the times it uses such situations to  justify sacrifice and Win-Lose relationships.

Maslow is a psychologist.  Rand was a philosopher.  Those are different aspects of humanity.  Psychology is (or ought to be) descriptive, philosophy is normative.  Using a philosophy as a basis to argue with a special science is what a crackpot does.  Don't be like that.  If you think Maslow is wrong you need to attack his thesis within psychology with scientific methods or by exposing errors of method.

Since all you really want to do is write a book about managerial practices, why do you even need to pick a fight with Maslow?  The whole topic of managerial practices should assume business functioning in a context of personal safety.  

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Using a philosophy as a basis to argue with a special science is what a crackpot does.  Don't be like that.  If you think Maslow is wrong you need to attack his thesis within psychology with scientific methods or by exposing errors of method.

 

 

 

Psychology studies sub-conscious, and Ethics conscious. Sub-conscious is trained by conscious using Epistemology and Psycho-Epistemology. So philosophy, ethics and epistemology in particular, provides premises for psychology. And psychology is a derivative branch of philosophy like economics. Please check the medium blog for details.

Quote

Since all you really want to do is write a book about managerial practices, why do you even need to pick a fight with Maslow?  The whole topic of managerial practices should assume business functioning in a context of personal safety.  

Behavioral School of Management connects subject of management to the subject of psychology.

 
Edited by RohinGupta
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3 hours ago, RohinGupta said:

Psychology studies sub-conscious, and Ethics conscious. Sub-conscious is trained by conscious using Epistemology and Psycho-Epistemology. So philosophy, ethics and epistemology in particular, provides premises for psychology. And psychology is a derivative branch of philosophy like economics. Please check the medium blog for details.

Behavioral School of Management connects subject of management to the subject of psychology.

 

No, as a science psychology must be grounded in observations of human behavior.  Premises do not come first, that is rationalism.

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2 hours ago, Grames said:

No, as a science psychology must be grounded in observations of human behavior.  Premises do not come first, that is rationalism.

Specialized sciences need both, Philosophy and Observations. Check DIM Hypothesis by Dr. Peikoff for details. My blog contains both, the Philosophical Premises and Observation of Human situations.

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Hi All,

        I am in middle of converting the content of blog into video.

       Please check the first draft of part of video and share feedback.

                          

 

      Pending : Voice over and parts explaining values, Central Purpose of Life, and Alternative model.

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Final draft of video

It captures the essential concepts involved in Human Motivation, introduces the most popular model for motivating humans, identifies the gaps in that model and fixes them.

So checkout the video and share the feedback here or in Youtube. Hope its useful...!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lmHBjgSSHI

P.S: The ideas are derived from Central Principles of Objectivist Ethics

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