Date of Birth: April 1, 1908
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: June 8, 1970
Biography
Abraham Harold Maslow was an influential American psychologist best known for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Maslow was the eldest of seven children. He initially studied law at the City College of New York (CCNY) but later switched to the University of Wisconsin to pursue psychology, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees. Maslow’s early career included teaching at Brooklyn College and later at Brandeis University, where he became the chair of the psychology department. His work diverged from the dominant behaviorist and psychoanalytic schools of thought at the time, focusing instead on what he called humanistic psychology—a perspective that emphasizes personal growth and potential. His 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation” and his subsequent book “Motivation and Personality” cemented his reputation as a pioneer in the field. Maslow’s ideas have had a lasting impact on psychology, education, business, and therapy.
5 Interesting Facts about Abraham Maslow
1. Abraham Maslow was originally interested in law before switching his focus to psychology.
2. He coined the term “self-actualization” to describe the process of realizing and fulfilling one’s potential.
3. Maslow was the first of seven children born to Jewish immigrants from Russia.
4. He served as the president of the American Psychological Association in 1967.
5. Maslow was critical of the behaviorist and psychoanalytic schools, leading him to develop his own humanistic approach.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Abraham Maslow
1. “What a man can be, he must be.”
2. “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”
3. “One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth.”
4. “The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short.”
5. “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Abraham Maslow’s net worth is not widely documented, but his highest net worth is estimated to have been modest, as he primarily worked in academia.
Children
Abraham Maslow had two daughters, Ellen Maslow and Ann Kaplan.
Relevant Links
1. [Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – Simply Psychology](https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
2. [Biography – Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/abraham-maslow
3. [Wikipedia – Abraham Maslow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow
5. [Maslow’s Legacy – Association for Humanistic Psychology](http://www.ahpweb.org/about/maslow/
