A reflection by Dr. Laila Surani
Founder & CEO, EMAGE CIC
For decades, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs has shaped how we think about human motivation. From classrooms to healthcare, from marketing campaigns to wellbeing programmes, Maslow’s pyramid became the universal “map” of what people need to thrive.
Teachers used it to understand student behaviour.
Hospitals used it to support patient recovery.
Marketers used it to influence consumer decisions.
Youth services used it to guide personal development.
And yes — it has been applied to children, adults, and workplace teams alike.
But as widely used as it is, Maslow’s model has faced critique from many scholars across psychology, anthropology, sociology, and even evolutionary science.
And my recent work with ethnic minority older adults aged 60–92 has shown me, once again, just how limited and incomplete Maslow’s hierarchy can be when we try to apply it later in life — especially across different cultures.
What Scholars Have Said About Maslow’s Theory
1. Geert Hofstede — Culture Shapes Needs
Hofstede argued Maslow’s model reflects Western, individualistic thinking.
In many non-Western cultures (Asian, African, Caribbean), belonging, family, and spirituality often come before individuality and self-actualisation.
2. Clayton Alderfer — Needs Do Not Follow a Sequence
Alderfer’s ERG theory showed that humans move back and forth between needs — they don’t climb a strict ladder.
3. Wahba & Bridwell — Lack of Empirical Evidence
Their review found no strong scientific proof that needs follow Maslow’s proposed order.
4. Anthropologists — Human Needs Are Not Universal
Anthropologists like Margaret Mead demonstrated that cultures around the world define needs differently. In many communities, spiritual or communal needs may come before physical ones.
5. Feminist and Social Critics — Gender & Lived Experience Matter
Many argued Maslow’s model reflects male-centred, individualistic ideals and ignores relational or caregiving roles often held by women.
6. Evolutionary Psychologists — Our Motivations Are More Complex
Kenrick et al. showed that evolutionary needs (mating, parenting, survival) overlap and don’t fit neatly into a pyramid.
7. Max-Neef — Needs Are Interconnected, Not Hierarchical
His model proposes nine universal needs (identity, participation, subsistence, affection, etc.) that exist simultaneously.
This Matters for Older Adults
While Maslow’s theory may offer a useful starting point, it was designed around the needs of young, healthy adults in a Western context.
But older adults — especially from ethnic minority communities — do not experience needs in a predictable, linear order.
Their priorities shift due to:
- Migration history
- Intergenerational roles
- Faith and spirituality
- Health changes
- Cultural identity
- Social isolation or connection
- Memories and lived experiences
For many older adults, needs like respect, belonging, legacy, spiritual peace, and dignity become central — none of which fit neatly into Maslow’s pyramid.
My Recent Workshop: What Older Adults Taught Me
Last week, I facilitated a session with an ethnic minority group of older adults aged 60 to 92. As part of the workshop, I gave them a sheet listing various needs — some inspired by Maslow, others drawn from cultural and community priorities.
The results were eye-opening.
Every single person created a different hierarchy.
Some placed spiritual peace at the top.
Some prioritised family harmony.
Others chose independence, respect, memories, or health stability.
A few highlighted joy, learning, or community belonging.
One participant — a 92-year-old grandmother — circled “being heard” as her number one need.
Not a single list mirrored Maslow’s pyramid.
What This Teaches Us
Human needs are deeply personal, culturally shaped, and constantly evolving.
Especially in later life, the needs of older adults do not fit neatly into a universal model.
Older adults create their own hierarchy — shaped by:
- Faith
- Migration journeys
- Health realities
- Family roles
- Cultural identity
- Personal meaning
- Community connection
- Past experiences
- Future hopes
This is why at EMAGE CIC, we approach ageing not through Western theories alone but through culturally grounded, community-informed understanding.
A Call to Rethink Ageing and Human Needs
Maslow gave us a foundation, but older adults — especially ethnic minority elders — remind us that:
🔹 Needs cannot be ranked
🔹 Needs are not universal
🔹 Needs shift with age, culture, and experience
🔹 Older adults have wisdom to define their own priorities
If we truly want to support healthy and active ageing, we must listen to the voices of those who have lived the longest.
Final Reflection
Working with elders has taught me something Maslow never emphasised:
**Human needs are not a pyramid.
They are a circle — connected, dynamic, and deeply personal.
Perhaps the greatest need of all is simply this:
To be seen, heard, valued, and respected — at every age, in every culture.
