Avraham Maslow (1943, 1954) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs and that some needs take precedence over others. We all learned this in college in Psych. 101 [for those who went to college and took Psych. 101.....].
Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this will be the first thing that motivates our behavior. Once that level is fulfilled the next level up is what motivates us, and so on.
1. Physiological needs - these are biological requirements for human survival, e.g. air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, sleep.
If
these needs are not satisfied the human body cannot function optimally.
Maslow considered physiological needs the most important as all the
other needs become secondary until these needs are met.
2. Safety needs - once an individual’s physiological needs are satisfied, the needs for security and safety become salient. People want to experience order, predictability and control in their lives. These needs can be fulfilled by the family and society (e.g. police, schools, business and medical care).
For example, emotional security, financial security (e.g. employment, social welfare), law and order, freedom from fear, social stability, property, health and well being (e.g. safety against accidents and injury).
3. Love and belongingness needs - after physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belongingness. Belongingness, refers to a human emotional need for interpersonal relationships, affiliating, connectedness, and being part of a group.
Examples of belongingness needs include friendship, intimacy, trust, and acceptance, receiving and giving affection, and love.
4. Esteem needs are the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy and include self-worth, accomplishement and respect. Maslow classified esteem needs into two categories: (i) esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g., status, prestige).
Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity.
5. Self-actualization needs are the highest level in Maslow's hierarchy, and refer to the realization of a person's potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. Maslow (1943) describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.
What is NOT on the list???
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
Man doesn't NEED drugs and alcohol.
So why is it that even in our community there is so much of it?? I received an email with a teshuva from Rav Schachter where he [surprisingly!!!] paskens that a Jew shouldn't do drugs. He was compelled to write this, he explained, b/c so many people have asked him.
What are we lacking that compels so many of us to revert to these harmful foreign substances? People are clearly empty inside and need to fill that void. Why are they empty and try to fill that void with things that only exacerbate the pain and emptiness??
I hear loads of talk about drug and alcohol abuse in our community but I want to know what is at the root. We live in a generation when there is more gashmiyus BY FAR than at anytime in history. We are soooooooooooo comfortable. So many of us live in mansions, have multiple automobiles but CHAS VI-SHALOM don't stay home for Yuntiv. Tens of thousands go to Orlando and other places. What is wrong with the mansions? Why drop 10's of thousands on ONE WEEK??? Yes - people need a change of scenery etc. etc. But how often and at what cost?? People feel a void and try to fill that void by going to Disney World. [I am not saying that there is anything necessarily wrong with the vacation culture which dominates our lives -- just noting its existence.] Phone addiction which is so ubiquitous and that almost EVERYBODY *suffers* from to some extent, is also a sign of this internal void.
As individuals and as a community, we need to do a serious cheshbon hanefesh and try to figure out what is lacking.
I have a theory that I won't share. והמשכיל ידום בעת ההיא.
