Maslow and beer, and a question.
Back in the 40's, round about the same time Einstein and co were developing the first atomic bomb, a psychologist named Abraham Maslow developed a thing now referred to as Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
In brief (and thus I'm probably going to get this totally wrong), the theory is that humans tend to want/need to meet the needs which are lower on the triangle before they want/need to meet the needs which are higher in the triangle.
This has or hasn't been useful as far as it goes, depending on who you read. Some modern psychologists apparently think it's a bit too simple.
Recently, in light of the fact that currently our spending is greater than our income, I've been having to justify spending money on things which I previously did not have to justify spending money on.
So today I was thinking it would be nice to have a beer after dinner. (Which, by the way, represents a radical departure from the teetotaling "all alcohol is evil" community in which i grew up.) I can't really justify buying beer right now. (One time I actually dumpstered a five pack of fairly nice beer, which had been thrown out because the sixth bottle in what was previously a six-pack had broken. But I'm not really expecting that to happen again anytime soon.) Which got me to thinking--and here's the question for you:
Where does beer fall in Maslow's hierarchy? =)
2 comments:
Well it is a stupid graph IMO. I'm with Chesterton - the best way think to do with beer is not to avoid it self-righteously or drink to excess but to enjoy it by only sampling it in moderation.
Most things are best enjoyed in moderation I find. Which is kinda handy when you don't have much money - even a can of beer feels like a great event and a prize!
The bottom of the pyramid- physiological needs is precisely where beer belongs. That, or self-actualization. I feel pretty self-actualized after a few bers ;)
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