Needs

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorCollege, Undergraduate February 2008

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Abraham Maslow, a man who grew up in what is known as in todays society, a disfunctial home. Yet, he became one of the most well known, respected, intelligent, and ideolized personality theorist of all time. He strived for achievement and self-understanding. He took the negative and positive obsticals in life and looked beyond the superficial view of them instead looking for a meaning with oneself.

        Abraham Maslow was born in 1908 in Brooklyn, NY (lecb). His father, Samuel Maslow, worked himself up to owner of a small barrel manufacturing company (lib). On the other hand, his mother had married very young and didn’t have much going for herself. She was a very inadequate parent. She only thought of herself and was intentionaly very cruel to Abraham. Maslow felt hatred towards her and never did forgive her for the way she treated him. He was not emotionally close to either parent.

Not surprisingly, he became very lonely as a boy, and found his escape in books.

        To satisfy his parents, he first studied law at the City College of New York. He then after a few semesters decided that law school wasn’t for him. He thought it focused on the bad aspects of life. He married Bertha Goodman, against his parents wishes. He and Bertha moved to Wisconsin where he attended the University of Wisconsin. It was here that he began to take an interest in Psychology. He spent time there working with Harry Harlow, who is famous for his experiments with baby rhesus monkeys and attachment behavior.

        In 1934, maslow received his doctorate, but he could not find a job because of the Great Depression. Consequently, he continued to teach at Wisconsin for a short time and even enrolled in medical school. However, he found it very boring and...