Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Revisited

by Michael Mallows

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Having reflected on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs in previous issues, I thought it might be interesting to revisit and look at the model again through a cultural lens, so to speak.

The following is a framework I use with actual or prospective trans-racially adoptive parents and foster carers.

I start by exploring how their own childhood needs were or were not met within the context of their own cultural and familial norms. For example, the whole family sharing at least one meal a day at the table. Or, Mum was responsible for the child care and Dad took care of chastisement. Thus, Dad was the one who sent them to their room but he never read bedtime stories. Mum, on the other hand, was blamed for ‘telling tales’ but was not respected when attempting to lay down the law.

Repeated in the current family dynamic, Dad may blame Mum for being too fussy and resent having the ‘baddy’ role. Mum could feel that she is not supported. The kids, meanwhile, on the one hand play them off against each other, on the other feel very insecure because they know from previous experience that squabbling parents often results in children being blamed and then removed from that home.  

Although the discussion may be free flowing, not necessarily a Q & A session, I will want to explore and determine answers to the following questions:  

SUSTENANCE

To what extent do you think that foodstuffs influence a person’s sense of identity?

How might previous experiences of mealtimes affect a person’s new placement?

What are YOUR ‘rules’ for (family) mealtimes?

How might you respond to a person’s different, ‘inappropriate’ behaviour at meal times or around food?  

SAFETY / SECURITY

A person may have been moved a number of times and have negative feelings about black / white authority figures. If the person’s words or behaviour suggest deep anxieties or insecurities how specifically will your response indicate to the person that you are culturally sensitive? What specific outcome would you want from your responses?  

LOVE / BELONGING

In what specific ways would you enable the persons to feel that their emotional, psychological, cultural or racial selves would remain intact? In what ways would you actively acknowledge and validate other people’s sense of belonging to their ‘r oots’?   

ESTEEM/VALIDATION

In what ways would you actively promote a sense of self, of pride in the person’s sense of ‘their’ culture, race, gender, ethnicity, orientation?

How would you actively reflect back to the person your pride or pleasure in the different aspects of his or her origins?  (How?) Do you do that with and for your friends, family and colleagues?  

UNDERSTANDING

What do you think they most need to understand about themselves and their world to achieve more of their potential?

How - as a parent (or professional) - would you describe or define “the person’s world”?  

ORDER/ STRUCTURE

What are the rules and boundaries? What are acceptable criteria for punishment?

Who is ‘in charge’ of consequences? (How) do you, as parents, discuss these issues? What feelings are allowed expression and what are the gender implications now and historically for each of you?  

AESTHETICS

What messages is the person likely to hear from you about  Race? Culture? Gender? Abilities? Origins? Ethnicity?

What specific messages will you offer the person to counter the negative or support the positive (above)?

What specific messages do you give your friends, family and colleagues about the cultural, racial, ethnic differences that exist between you?  

ACTUALIZATION

How will you help this person to achieve his or her best whilst recognising and celebrating both the differences and the similarities in your cultural, racial, ethnic identities?  

It is often a revelation for the parents to understand how their different cultural backgrounds impact on their own communication and relationship. These issues may not have entered their minds, and it can be fascinating and uncomfortable for them to recognise, for example, that they have never given thought to the cultural heritage of the young person they will be nurturing.

Many of them, initially, think it’s just Political Correctness and that love will suffice.

Such attitudes are not atypical, and I want them to have, to some extent at least, a social constructivist perspective so that they can pay attention and respect to the unique aspects of a child’s cultural identity. That respect can encourage parents to learn new approaches and develop new skills. Also, if needs be, they may build create new networks and alliances that will serve them as a newly constructed multi-cultural family.  

It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that these questions, suitably adapted, can be applicable in classrooms, board rooms, penal and psychiatric institutions, hospitals, youth groups and anywhere that people with differences congregate or commune. It is even less necessary to mention that the places where these questions or not considered, let alone addressed, are legion! 

 

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Michael Mallows is a Management Consultant, Group Worker, Therapist, Supervisor, Adoption Consultant, Coach and Mentor; also an Author, Lyricist, Public Speaker, Team Builder and Workshop Presenter. [Click on any of the links to learn more about him and his activities] His website is www.mallows.co.uk and Email: michaelmallows@btinternet.com