Abraham Maslow

 

Abraham Maslow was born to parents of Russian Jewish origin. They had left their home country to escape the Czarist regime that threatened their livelihood (Wikipedia, 2015). It is in Brooklyn, New York where Abraham was raised. He was the oldest of seven children, in a household that did not have much wealth. From his father he was driven to study long hours and help bring money into the household (Project Management, 2005). His parents held education in the highest regard and from a young age there was a great expectation to succeed through the best education possible.
 

The environment of the neighbourhood was anti-Semitic at this time and caused Abraham trouble socially. He was said to spend a lot of time in libraries growing up as a result of the mix of heavy household expectation and the difficult social environment he grew up in. His best friend was a first cousin, with very few friends of any notable value beyond this close relation.

 

Abraham does not appear to have had a high regard for his mother (Wikipedia, 2015). The presence she held in life and toward the world created a strong reaction from Abraham toward her. Based on the theories he later developed, he may have decided through his understanding of her that one can only become kind generous and loving if they strive to reach their greatest potential.

 

The attributes of her bitterness, in all its detail were derived possibly from her soul’s unlived potential. 

 

Only in the living of one’s full potential do we become generous and kindly toward the world (Wikipedia, 2015).

 

He may have attributed intolerable characteristics of racism, manipulation, and self-justifying statements to her unlived potential creating this low level living. The understanding of his later development of the hierarchy of needs pyramid may have been partly from a disappointment for who she had to become in the struggle for survival.