Placing Parenting at the Top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

20th Century psychologist Abraham Maslow famously categorized human needs in a pyramid, from physical survival to self-actualization. Now a team of evolutionary psychologists proposes that the top slot should belong to parenting:

The new pyramid is based on the premise that our strongest and most fundamental impulse, which shapes our day-to-day desires on an unconscious level, is to survive long enough to pass our genes to the next generation. According to this school of thought, backed by considerable — though not irrefutable — evidence, all our achievements are linked in one way or another to the urge to reproduce.

In other words, aside from our powerful brains, we’re pretty much like every other living creature.


http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture/maslows-pyramid-gets-a-makeover-20682 via Glenn Reynolds | Image: Georgia Perimeter College

Previously: Maslow's Hierarchy of Robot Needs

Commenting is closed.

We hope you like this article!
Please help us grow by sharing:

Get Updates In Your Inbox

Free weekly emails, plus get access
to subscriber-only prizes.

We won't share your email. You can cancel at any time.


Email This Post to a Friend
"Placing Parenting at the Top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
neat stories? Like us on Facebook!
Close: I already like you guys!