Scaling Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is not linear

Historically, human life has been similar to that of our many other fellow species on Earth: that is, governed by a continual need to survive by finding and maintaining access to the other basic components of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in food and water, shelter, safety, and belonging.

Yet, as human society has modernized through the development of new technologies — particularly in this and the last century — these basic physiological needs have become increasingly met for a larger and larger share of people. These advancements have enabled the focus of human society to advance further up Maslow’s Hierarchy, from concrete survival, to the more abstract psychological and self-fulfillment needs.

The approach of survival is a linear one: the more one acquires water, food, shelter, safety, etc. the more satisfied the survival organs will be, with bodily systems such as ghrelin and leptin (appetite hormones) indicating the local maximum satisfaction levels.

The approach of becoming more fulfilled or self-actualized, however, is a much more complex and complicated formula which cannot be solved in the same linear manner as the lower needs. Accumulating more inputs important to the lower levels, such as food, shelter, money, sex, possessions, friends, or a family will not linearly increase the satisfaction of…