Maslow's Hierarchy of needs has been used within American society for decades as a helpful, easy to understand tool in understanding what motivates humans. In the article "Social Networks, What Maslow Misses", Dr. Rutledge lays down a strong argument for establishing a new look at Maslow's Hierarchy with our new understanding of brain mechanics and the use of social media. Maslow's Hierarchy consists of a hierarchy of needs starting with a base of physiological needs (food, water, shelter), then security needs (protection, order, stability). Next came social needs (family, friends, community), esteem needs (achievement, responsibility), and then finally self-actualization needs (personal growth, fulfillment). All 5 of these levels make up a …show more content…
Rutledge proposes in the article that this ranking of needs misses its mark for a couple of reasons. First, with new technology being available in the 21st century humans have learned exponentially more about the brain and about human interactions. Maslow didn't have the sheer statistical ability that the internet provides today to prove his theory over a broad population. And second, that "none of Maslow’s needs can be met without social connection". For millennium, social interaction has gotten mankind through all of the needs hierarchy that Maslow proposed. Hunting and gathering were done by communities (physiological needs), armies formed for protection (security needs), and business creation takes managers and employees to flourish (esteem needs). Dr. Rutledge expands this idea "From the Savannah to Facebook, social behaviors adapt to the environment to support that most basic of human needs. We strive to achieve it within the technological constraints of our environment.". Her findings are not discrediting Maslows, but expanding upon them where Maslow missed how much people rely on each other for their own growth and needs. She explains that Maslow made an attribution error due to his lack of technology. As humans have become more technologically advanced, so have we become more interconnected, showing the need for community and