Vlog #59 - Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (Feat. The Uncultured Project) 

Mandrilo You're somewhat in the right. Actually, when a person spends the most time and effort on the very bottom of the pyramid, he isn't doing that by choice. It simply means that he's literally too poor to think beyond basic physiological needs. A whole society where the average person is like this is an extremely poor society. Now since the average person won't be able to properly climb up the pyramid (sure he might get two square meals a day, get married, have friends and everything), he'll turn to religion to keep the existential dread inherent in every person at bay, and that's his way of achieving self-actualisation.

+BrotherCrispen Aye. Growing up in an 'outsider' family in a rural area (my grandparents moved from NYC to the Catskill mountains) exposed me to two very different life perspectives. One comes from having enough (and being able to fall back on one's family's resources should one go through a crisis), and the other from having to expend a lot of effort to survive, without the option of a fallback. I can definitely relate to feeling guilt around this stuff, but I try to keep in mind that nobody chooses the circumstances of their birth.

I'm guilty of giving off that vibe, usually when I'm uncomfortable engaging with someone or something. Being busy or working can be comforting because you feel "in control" but I'm learning that doing so is to alienate yourself from life.

+BrotherCrispen Your suffering can never alleviate someone else's suffering. To be a better you helps the world more than to be a miserable you--no matter what your circumstances are. Guilt is the worst of emotions because it doesn't help anyone, it only dehumanizes. Take care of yourself.

The answer to your question is yes, I can relate. I currently work as a manual worker in a (Hewlett-Packpard) server factory - handling completed products after they leave the assembly line, (I've done unqualified labor, handling, construction, warehouse, etc. to give you some context) and if I'm to grossly generalize, the people who prosper in such work conditions (manual labor, kinda low pay, not much responsibility) or simply end up there and stay there for whatever reason, usually don't have the privilege of extra free time and capacity to research a lot of things. So when you talk to anyone, any sort of analyzing, really trying to understand anything below the surface level - this gets met with negative responses. Most people of that socio-economic class are victim of New Age and Pro-Russian/Anti-American propaganda that really thrives in an environment where there's too much (conflicting) information and people don't have a good grip on the tools necessary to filter out the false information from the true ones, they don't know how to determine this, check their sources, etc. I could argue that this is evident with the recent events like Brexit, Trump becoming so popular etc, but that is another topic.

+J.A. Martiz I came across your comment, and I think it's an answer to Nerdwriter's take on Maslow's Hierarchy. Guilt doesn't cut it, action does. Whoever you are, whatever you have, help someone else in need. Widow's Mite or Rich Man's Camel, act.

Who's that a quote from?

Julius Owen maybe cuz he's busy on tuesdays now....

tony 1 I know...the music and them hugging 🤗

Pussy

+Morné Volschenk You forget that our grandparents in Europe saw the biggest massacre in the history of Mankind 70 years ago, and had to rebuild entire countries from ashes? You forget that 80 years ago millions died from the Spanish flu? You forget that 100 years ago millions of sons died in WWI? You forget that Europe is the region in the world with the deadliest and most lasting conflicts? Your prejudice is fueled by ignorance, short memory and perhaps a inferiority complex.

I'm not saying the Western world hasn't suffered.

+Morné Volschenk No. You are implying that through a position of comfort and prosperity the Western Civilization has become condescendent towards other societies. Suffering is relative, as is comfort, success, failure; and the fact Maslow recognizes different grades of needs and that angst and suffering may come from the absence of one element within this pyramid is a great theoretical construction, that, though not flawless, helps us to put in perspective shared elements to every individual on earth. If you find Maslow problematic, you can always disassemble his pyramid and rearrange the priorities the way you want it, and justify it. And concerning the West being the model for progress and a healthy society, so far I don't see proof that it is not. Nowhere in the world life expectancy, literacy, freedom and equality is higher. And instead of being a cynical mind thinking that we are force feeding others with our ideas, why don't you instead consider that we are giving other societies the possibility to steepen the learning curve on how to deal with problems already solved by the West like certain diseases, hunger, education, etc?

NeilSonOfNorbert that's not what "need" means though. In theory you could work on the things at the top of the pyramid, while the bottom fell apart, but you would still NEED those basic structures from the bottom of the pyramid