Shut Down, Not Shaken Part 24 (Maslow Got it Wrong)

Drawing on the 2021 Medium article “Maslow Got It Wrong” by GatherFor, Cristin explores how Maslow’s research was deeply influenced by the Blackfoot Nation, an Indigenous community whose worldview centered on community, balance, and collective well-being rather than on individual achievement.

Maslow initially observed that the Blackfoot people’s understanding of fulfillment valued connection over competition, community over self-actualization. Yet, when Maslow published his now-famous model, those cultural foundations were erased, and the Western world embraced a version of human motivation rooted in individualism.

In this episode, Cristin not only examines the difference between the two schools of thought, individualistic versus communal, but also reflects on the humility it takes to acknowledge when we’ve gotten something wrong. She draws parallels between Maslow’s correction and our own lives: the courage to change our minds, own our missteps, and lead with integrity rather than ego.