Maslow hierarchy and economy

[Economyst]

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Greetings,

I'm an Italian economist and I've studied the Maslow hierarchy of needs under an economic point of view.

I'd like to know if there is a gentleman (or lady) that can answer a question about this topic.

In the Manslow Hierarchy there is no mention of the need of more complex or luxury goods such as bigger houses, expensive cars, yachts and so on.
From an economical point of view these needs are the engine that drives consumism. And consumism is the engine that drives a large part of our economic system, creating wealth.
It is possible that the need of complex goods (not present in the hierarchy)is basically driven only by the need of esteem by the others (present in the hierarchy)? Are complex and luxury goods considerable as status symbol only (or supra needs) that satisfy esteem needs or is there a real enjoyment of these goods that can have a place directly in the hierarchy of needs? If the latter sentence is correct, how can we put together the Manslow hierarchy with complex and luxury goods?

Thanks.

Economyst

 

[erg923]

I'm not sure you need Maslow for any of this.

1.) Greed has been natural and constant part of the human condition since the birth of civilization. 2.) The obtainment of material goods and wealth (ie.,materialism) is highly reinforced in human society. As long as a behavior is reinforced, it will continue.

 

[docma]

If Maslow were working today he'd be more likely to factor in the socio-cultural elements; sociology will give you more direct models for the issues of status and how it is expressed/constrained in cultures/social organizations. As I recall status has to do with the power to control resources and class has to do with the ability to consume them ..(?)

Sweet Honey in the Rock's song about Greed is a very concise summary of a social problem we have not been able to address successfully from psychological theories to date....

 

[aagman01]

Simple - you don't. Luxury goods or the desire for them are not a part of self-actualization hierarchy of Maslow. If anything, I believe that one could argue that the desire for luxury goods is in opposition of the self-actualization/fulfillment process.

Greetings,

I'm an Italian economist and I've studied the Maslow hierarchy of needs under an economic point of view.

I'd like to know if there is a gentleman that can answer a question about this topic.

In the Manslow Hierarchy there is no mention of the need of more complex or luxury goods such as bigger houses, expensive cars, yachts and so on.
From an economical point of view these needs are the engine that drives consumism. And consumism is the engine that drives a large part of our economic system, creating wealth.
It is possible that the need of complex goods (not present in the hierarchy)is basically driven only by the need of esteem by the others (present in the hierarchy)? Are complex and luxury goods considerable as status symbol only (or supra needs) that satisfy esteem needs or is there a real enjoyment of these goods that can have a place directly in the hierarchy of needs? If the latter sentence is correct, how can we put together the Manslow hierarchy with complex and luxury goods?

Thanks.

Economyst

 

[Psychemout]

+1 on the above, the fundamental principle of the hierarch of needs is a differentiation of needs vs wants... luxury items are not a need they are items that satisfy a want and thus there is no place for them in the hierarchy. Look up self-actualization it more along the path of enlightenment then keeping up with the "joneses" next door.

 

[PhDToBe]

I'm assuming a woman's response doesn't matter, as the OP asked for a gentleman to respond...sad!

 

[nononora]

I'm assuming a woman's response doesn't matter, as the OP asked for a gentleman to respond...sad!

What would a woman know about desiring luxury goods?

 

[Economyst]

I'm assuming a woman's response doesn't matter, as the OP asked for a gentleman to respond...sad!

Edit: Lady added. Sorry for the error due to a linguistic use of the italian language (my mothertongue) where masculine nouns are generally valid for feminine nouns.

 

[PhDToBe]

Understandable. It's just offensive to see indirect sexism.

 

[deleted176373]

Simple - you don't. Luxury goods or the desire for them are not a part of self-actualization hierarchy of Maslow. If anything, I believe that one could argue that the desire for luxury goods is in opposition of the self-actualization/fulfillment process.

Ummm, not so quick, sometimes the desire to create or to bring something into fruition may lead to the need for "luxury" goods in order to achieve that goal which leads to self-actualization or fulfillment. I do agree that they are not inherently a part of the self-actualization process, nor is the pursuit of such automatically not part of the process.

Take the worlds greatest violinist, perhaps they are not able to fully actualize their dream of being the greatest without a violin that allows them the ability to fully realize their potential like a Stradivarius, or the Formula One driver who cannot fully realize their potential as the greatest driver in the history of Formula One without the help of Ferrari (e.g. M. Schumacher). Both a Stradivarius or the Ferrari Formula One car are certainly luxury goods and yet needed for self-actualization in these examples. No different than the desire to be the first man to walk on the moon... Self-actualization and fulfillment does not always happen in a vacuum.

So while one could argue (quite successfully) that often times that material pursuits may obfuscate fulfillment and self-actualization, it is not necessarily so.

Mark

 

[deleted176373]

Understandable. It's just offensive to see indirect sexism.

So are you saying that you are offended by the indirect sexism by Italians, or is it understandable that Italians are sexist because of their Italian heritage and therefor given a pass?

Mark

 

[PHinisheD]

I think that luxury goods, in most cases, would satisfy esteem needs. (One exception might be a person who actualizes his passion for driving through the use of his Porsche)

I don't think this matters much, though, because there is not much empirical evidence to support the theory. I think this theory just hangs on because it makes sense intuitively, even though we can find a million counterexamples.

 

[aagman01]

Positive psych research has provided some emperical evidence in support of certain parts of Maslow's hierarchy. For example, Ed Diener's research into subjective well being has demonstrated that pursuit of luxury goods is not supportive of subjective well being. From that, its not a far leap to argue that pursuit of luxury goods is not supported by the self-actualization model proposed by Maslow. So I would disagree that pursuit of luxury goods is beneficial towards self-actualization.

I think that luxury goods, in most cases, would satisfy esteem needs. (One exception might be a person who actualizes his passion for driving through the use of his Porsche)

I don't think this matters much, though, because there is not much empirical evidence to support the theory. I think this theory just hangs on because it makes sense intuitively, even though we can find a million counterexamples.

 

[PhDToBe]

So are you saying that you are offended by the indirect sexism by Italians, or is it understandable that Italians are sexist because of their Italian heritage and therefor given a pass?

Mark

No, Mark, it is understandable that the poster's message was not intended to be sexist because of the language barrier.