B. Lorenzo Buckinchere
Feb 9, 2025
As a human being, one will experience different needs at different times of life. It is a part of being alive, and you will have these needs as long as you remain living. There are different needs that will arise at different times of your life, based on your current story arc. Some needs are more basic than others, such as food, warmth and water. The more basic the need, the more likely it is to be repetitive.
Of all the philosophers to explore the nuances of the human condition, none has come close to breaking down the hierarchy of needs quite like Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist of Russian-jewish heritage who lived between 1908 and 1970.
Maslow first proposed the hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper, “A Theory on Human Motivation,” where he listed a five tier structure containing a group of human needs in ascending order, suggesting that the fulfillment of one need would motivate an individual to tackle the following need on the chain.
Maslow’s hierarchy is controversial, and contains some inconsistencies. Due to its hierarchical structure, many are of the few that the order of each need must remain intact, as one is not able, or should not be able to skip levels. But in spite of its imperfections, Maslow’s hierarchy is nonetheless the most frequently referenced hierarchy as it pertains to human growth and motivation.
On the first tier, there are physiological needs, which include; breathing, food, water, warmth, clothing and sex. On the second tier, there are safety needs, such as; money, housing and transportation. On the third tier, there are social needs, such as; family, friends, sexual intimacy and a sense of community belonging.
On the fourth tier, there are needs of esteem, such as graduating from college, releasing an album, publishing a book, or getting married. Then there is the fifth tier on the hierarchy, a need for self-actualization.
Maslow may have structured his hierarchy with the best intentions in mind, however, there are some inconsistencies relating to the order of achievement. For example, except for breathing, one typically doesn’t expect for physiological fulfillment to be freely given unless one is a child, or disabled.
Even with adult disabilities, one would have to be lucky enough to live in a country with a good welfare program, or else be left for dead. However, that is the exception. For the most part, you need a job in order to buy food. But in order to gain employment and maintain it, one needs to be liked and accepted by the group, or else they will either be used and discarded, or flat out rejected right off the bat.
Social acceptance comes from level three on the hierarchy, so therefore, based on that reason alone, it seems as though one should gain social acceptance first in order to survive.
Social acceptance is usually rooted in childhood connections that would have otherwise lasted a lifetime. But what if you constantly relocated throughout your childhood? Or what if you are just socially awkward? What if you are just an introvert?
Centuries ago, or in fact, even as recent as the 1980s, you would be left for dead without social support. Conformity is primordially ingrained deep within our collective subconscious, that is why all normies would rather conform to society than embrace their true nature.
Luckily today, with the advent of the internet, you can literally create something that adds value to the lives of others, and pay someone who is naturally more socially outgoing to market it for you. If you find that you are naturally an introvert, I recommend becoming an author and enjoying the benefits of faceless fame, the best of both worlds.
However, creating something that adds esteem is found at level four of the hierarchy. One may choose to approach the hierarchy based on one’s own tastes and interests.
For example, an extravert seeking employment may prioritize social conformity, even to the detriment of morality, while an introvert may choose to prioritize esteem. Another cause for concern is being able to secure food with no safe place to leave it, or no transport to even procure it.
So here is my revised version of Maslow’s hierarchy as it relates to modern life. Particularly as it relates to eccentric introverts, because my blog is not for normies.
First of all, make safety a priority. Once you are safe, do some soul searching with the intent of discovering your niche. This requires long, lonely periods of isolation from the world. My advice to set you up on the right path for rediscovering your niche is to remember what you loved to do when you were 18.
It also helps if you keep in mind that you will naturally be good at whatever it is that you enjoy doing. That niche will provide esteem while also providing for all of your physiological and safety needs.
Once you have rediscovered your niche and you are dedicated to your purpose, you will find that the right social support naturally forms around you. Others with whom you share a common interest will naturally gravitate towards you as they too become inspired.
So once again to recap, safety first, then esteem, then physical needs, then social support. Self-actualization can only be achieved by becoming exceptionally good at performing your niche, the very best. And that can only be achieved through many decades of consistently showing up and honing your craft.
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