Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness…
Abraham Maslow
Human Transcendence
Topic: Self-Cultivation & Health
Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the cosmos.
Abraham Harold Maslow, born on April 1, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American psychologist best known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health based on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization and self-transcendence. Maslow was the eldest of seven children in a family of Jewish immigrants from Kyiv, Ukraine, who fled to the United States to escape Czarist persecution. Despite a challenging childhood marked by poverty and antisemitic hostility, Maslow excelled academically, graduating from City College of New York before pursuing graduate studies in psychology at the University of Wisconsin. His early experiences and education significantly influenced his later work, focusing on human potential and psychological health.
Maslow's academic career was distinguished by his tenure at several prestigious institutions, including Brooklyn College, Brandeis University, and Columbia University. During these years, he developed his theory of human motivation, encapsulated in his seminal work on the hierarchy of needs. This theory posits that humans are motivated by a series of hierarchical needs, starting with basic physiological needs and culminating in self-actualization, the realization of one's fullest potential. Maslow's emphasis on the positive aspects of human nature, such as creativity, personal growth, and self-fulfillment, marked a significant departure from the prevailing psychological theories of his time, which often focused on pathology and dysfunction.
In his later years, Maslow expanded his hierarchy to include the concept of self-transcendence, which he described as the highest level of human development. Self-transcendence involves transcending one's personal concerns to reach a higher perspective, encompassing a holistic connection with oneself, others, and the cosmos. Maslow believed that this level brought individuals "peak experiences" characterized by joy, peace, and heightened awareness. He also introduced the idea of "plateau experiences," where individuals maintain a state of serenity and higher consciousness. Maslow's contributions to psychology extended beyond his theories of motivation and self-actualization, making him a key figure in the development of humanistic psychology. His legacy endures in the fields of psychology, education, and beyond, where his insights into human potential continue to inspire and guide those seeking to understand and enhance the human experience.
Maslow, Abraham Harold. The Farther Reaches of Human Nature. Penguin Group, 1993 [Abraham Maslow, 1971] p. 269.
Abraham Maslow
Theme: Being in Self
About This Abraham Maslow Quotation [Commentary]
Abraham Maslow’s quote, “Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the cosmos,” encapsulates a deep understanding of human development. Maslow’s concept of transcendence builds upon his hierarchy of needs, which culminates in self-actualization. However, transcendence goes beyond self-actualization, proposing a state where individuals surpass their personal concerns and achieve a broader, more interconnected awareness. This holistic view reflects a deep connection not only with oneself but with all aspects of existence, suggesting that true fulfillment involves a harmonious relationship with the wider world.
In this expanded framework, Maslow emphasizes the importance of behaving and relating as “ends rather than means.” This signifies a shift from pursuing goals for personal gain to engaging with the world in a way that is intrinsically meaningful. It is about valuing relationships, nature, and the cosmos for their own sake, not merely as instruments for achieving personal objectives. This approach encourages a more genuine way of being, where actions and interactions are driven by inherent worth and connection, rather than external rewards. In the context of “Being In Self,” this perspective invites individuals to align their actions with their deeper values and the greater good, fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
Maslow’s insights into self-transcendence highlight the potential for peak experiences, where individuals feel intense joy, peace, and heightened awareness. These experiences are characterized by a sense of being part of something larger than oneself, transcending personal boundaries and connecting with the broader human experience and the universe. By introducing the idea of “plateau experiences,” Maslow also acknowledges that this heightened state can be sustained, leading to a consistent sense of serenity and higher perspective. Through his exploration of transcendence, Maslow provides a compelling vision of human potential that extends beyond self-fulfillment to embrace a holistic, interconnected existence, underscoring the depth of human consciousness and the possibility for continuous growth and harmony.
Abraham Maslow, Motivation and Personality: Toward a Positive Psychology
One of the earliest psychologists to focus attention on happy individuals and their psychological trajectory, in what he named Positive Psychology, was Abraham Maslow, who is most well known for his “hierarchy of needs.”
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Self-transcendence
In the original model, self-actualization is at the top, with esteem below it, then love/belonging, then safety, and physiological needs at the bottom. This indicates that physiological needs are vital for survival and that they must be sated before one can move up towards actualization and fulfillment. In his early work, Maslow considered self-actualization the pinnacle of human development and the highest human need: the realization of one’s full potential. He later recognized the need for one more level of development.
Self-actualization is indeed a lofty (and worthy) goal of development and should not be cast aside in favor of the shiny new need, but self-transcendence is truly the “next level” of development; it is other-focused instead of self-focused and concerns higher goals than those which are self-serving.
Abraham Maslow, The Importance of Transcendence
Maslow describes the importance of transcendence thusly:
“Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the cosmos” (Maslow, 1971, p. 269).
According to Maslow, self-transcendence brings the individual what he termed “peak experiences” in which they transcend their own personal concerns and see from a higher perspective. These experiences often bring strong positive emotions like joy, peace, and a well-developed sense of awareness (Messerly, 2017). Someone who is highly self-transcendent may also experience “plateau experiences” in which they consistently maintain or enter a state of serenity and higher perspective (Messerly, 2017).
Maslow’s addition of self-transcendence to the pyramid is not always noted in the literature when his theory is cited, but it has managed to make its way through the research community nonetheless.
—Courtney Ackerman [What is Self-Transcendence? Definition and 6 Examples (+PDF)].
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