Altruism and Maslow's Heirarchy

I do not believe that there is any such thing as an unselfish interest in the welfare of others commonly called “altruism.”  I do believe that people behave in ways that most humans would define as altruistic, but that these acts are, consciously or unconsciously, egocentric. And that is fine with me. 

            This does not mean I have a jaded or pessimistic look at the world.  On the contrary, knowing that altruism is a natural and irresistible human impulse, motivated by hardwired self interest is amazingly reassuring to me.  I am a happier person, knowing that a significant number of humans will eventually find altruism a desirable avenue of expression.  Strength of character, it seems, is in our self interest.  

            I believe in the reliable and entirely positive phenomenon of self interest because of my understanding of economics.  I can teach anyone a basic understanding of economics in five minutes.  It is the details that take years of study and a thick slice of mathematical analysis.  The five minute version is a simple chain of logic.  Our wants are unlimited but out resources available to satisfy those wants are finite.  Therefore we must make choices concerning how we use our resources to maximize our satisfaction.  Each choice represents the loss of an opportunity to use the targeted resource to satisfy another want.  Economics is the study of that choice making, its nuances and ramifications.

            Invariably, people want to challenge the first part of that statement.  Are our wants truly insatiable?  Are we never satisfied?  Is this just a manifestation of America’s culture of consumption?  The answers to these questions lie in Abraham Maslow’s wonderful hierarchy of needs.

           

Maslow was a product of the streets of New York City.  He was born shortly after the beginning of the 20^th century and died in 1970.  A psychologist, philosopher and professor, he studied the internal motivations of the human animal. 

He is best known for his work in dividing the psychological needs of humans into five broad levels.  These levels are called a hierarchy because they form a ladder with one set of needs leading to another.  Levels have to be addressed in order and are of equal importance.  If the needs of a lower level are not being met, the needs of higher levels can not and will not be addressed.  Maslow’s hierarchy is usually shown as a pyramid.  The lowest levels of the hierarchy are at the broad base of the pyramid with each succeeding tier on a higher and smaller section of the pyramid.  This is vaguely symbolic because there are probably smaller and smaller portions of the population which reach each of the higher levels of the hierarchy. 

Though sub-divided into smaller and more specific categories, the main sections of Maslow’s Hierarchy are, from the bottom up, physiological needs (those needed for immediate survival), safety and security needs, social and belonging needs, esteem needs and, finally, self-actualizing needs.  It is easy to understand the involvement of the human being at each of these levels if we use one, on-going, example. 

(1)  Physiological needs mean we need a full stomach.  Hunger is a life and death issue and we must satisfy these needs or our minds will reject all other concerns until they are met.

(2)  Safety and security needs mean we aren’t worried about going hungry from day to day.  Our experience tells us that we will be fed on a regular basis and hunger is not an issue of concern.

(3)  Social and belonging needs are met when we share food with others in our family or close social circles.  This cements the relationship between us.  Inviting others to dinner becomes a significant bonding exercise.

(4)  Self esteem needs require that we are considered to be good providers by people who are not part of our circle of friends and family.  We are given this homage by people who are neither hurt nor helped by our actions.

(5)  Self actualization needs require that we feel, internally, that we are a worthwhile human being.  We answer to no other judge than ourselves for this evaluation, and success or failure on this level does not effect the outward manifestations of our life. 

Economics deals primarily with the choices we make to satisfy wants at the first three levels, but without success there, the needs of the upper two can not be addressed.  This is why I can count on altruism and all of the good which comes from it, to shine through.  Once the needs at the lower levels are met, it is inevitable that our unlimited and unsatisfied wants will turn our attention outward to better the lives of others.  We must.  The only way to satisfy the last and lofty needs of self is to minister to others.  What is more, in a culture that values self and personal growth, movement up Maslow’s Hierarchy is encouraged and nurtured.  The need to have morphs itself into the need to provide and then the need to give.   

Ultimately, the need to look in the mirror of life and know that the person looking back at you has lived the best life possible is spectacularly compelling.  It inspires the talented to teach, the wealthy to endow and the devout to sainthood.  Think of the firemen who entered the Twin Towers on 9-11.  They knew those buildings were coming down.  Yet they went in and went up and paid the price.  You might say they did so with no thought of self, but I think they did so with a complete sense of self.  They knew the risk, and chose to go, and did so with the full and complete knowledge of what they were giving up with that choice.  They put themselves in harm’s way because serving others was more satisfying than serving themselves.  You may call that bravery, or altruism, but I call it the inherent nobility of mankind.