Abraham Maslow
- Born:
- April 1, 1908, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Died:
- June 8, 1970, Menlo Park, California, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Psychologist
Early Life and Education
- Born to Samuel Maslow and Rose Schilosky, Jewish immigrants from Russia.
- Experienced a difficult childhood marked by antisemitism and social isolation.
- Initially studied law at City College of New York, but switched to psychology.
- Received a B.A. (1930), M.A. (1931), and Ph.D. (1934) in psychology from the University of Wisconsin.
Career and Major Achievements
- Taught at Brooklyn College from 1937 to 1951.
- Became a professor at Brandeis University from 1951 to 1969.
- Served as resident fellow at Laughlin Foundation in Menlo Park, California, from 1969 until his death.
- Developed the Hierarchy of Needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization.
- A key figure in the development of Humanistic Psychology.
- President of the American Psychological Association (APA) from 1967 to 1968.
- His contributions are studied in the essay "Masaru Mushavu Biography of Abraham" that explores his profound impact on psychological thought.
Notable Works
- A Theory of Human Motivation (1943)
- Motivation and Personality (1954)
- Toward a Psychology of Being (1962)
- The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance (1966)
- Eupsychian Management: A Journal (1965)
- The Farther Reaches of Human Nature (1971, posthumously published)
Legacy and Impact
Abraham Maslow's work significantly shaped the field of psychology, influencing business management, education, and personal development. His Hierarchy of Needs remains a widely recognized and influential concept.