Thinking Beyond Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs: Culture, Neurobiology, and Human Needs in Therapy.

Carole Showell, DHSc (in progress), LCSW -

Why cultural context changes how we understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Yesterday, I came across a very informative article (linked below) written by Dr. Sarah Abedi that demonstrates the importance of understanding the origin and development of commonly used clinical frameworks. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a structured psychological theory for understanding the relationship between an individual's needs and their capacity for growth. However, this conceptualization of the relational dynamic between categories of human need and an individual's personal growth did not originate within Western psychological frameworks.

Rather, Maslow's hierarchy is a Westernized understanding of the Blackfoot Tribe's cultural and social belief system. Removed from its cultural context, this indigenous cultural and social belief system is flattened and ranked. Emphasis is shifted towards an ultimate goal of self-actualization. Dr. Abedi writes that the Blackfoot Tribe understood that these needs where equal, interconnected, and dynamic in relationship.

Clinicians (myself included) frequently refer to Maslow's work as a quick reference for understanding and prioritizing a client's treatment needs. I'm sure many of us have encountered situations where this hierarchy completely breaks down and we find ourselves stepping outside of this model when it proves to be inadequate. This is especially true when working with minoritized communities and diverse cultures.

When we try to apply a model that is inherently culturally mismatched, we sometimes find that various needs are in competition for priority. Sometimes needs appear to be contradictory. And sometimes, clients share that their most immediate need is one that is couched within a higher level of the hierarchy but the hierarchy is guiding us to address a more basic need first.

At Noble Rowan Counseling, we are very much aware that evidence-based practice is rooted in a Western psychological framework. Rigid reliance on evidence-based practices without curiosity, flexibility, and adaptability can lead a clinician to practice from a position of reductionism and invalidation.

Our practice is expanding our theoretical framework to practice therapy from a neurocultural perspective. This is critical to the work that we do: Understanding the neurobiology of how people conceptualize their needs within the context of their culture, community, or social group.

Change without consideration for cultural, social, and environmental context risks causing more harm instead of healing wounds.

Did Maslow Get Self-Actualization Wrong? Here's what the Blackfoot Tribe can teach us about self-actualization.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-the-wounded-healers/202501/did-maslow-get-self-actualization-wrong