Question

Consider one of the major criticisms of Freudian psychoanalytic thinking - that his entire theory is based upon his own personal analysis and his clinical analysis of "a handful of more or less neurotic Viennese housewives at turn-of-the-century Austria." I would maintain that Maslow's humanistic psychology and in particular his theory of self-actualization, can be criticized along the same lines! What am I talking about? Consider the genesis of Maslow's thinking and his own experiences.

Answer 1

Most of the psychological theories were developed in the Western countries and they cannot be generalized across cultures because people are different and so their environment. As a White American,Maslow had a very good opportunity both in the society and in his career to believe that people with enough efforts would be able to reach their highest potential. American Dream, social development,
second World War and American victory all would have contributed to Maslow's ideas because he would
have never had a chance to experience the social domination of his time on the people of color when he framed his need hierarchy. He insisted on the individual efforts rather than focusing on the role of society and environment in making one to believe that there are ample opportunities for ne to reach self-actualization by traveling through different stages. So, it's true that he wrote this theory from his dominant White background which failed to incorporate the other factors.