Self-Transcendence: Maslow’s Answer to Cultural Closeness
March 9, 2017 Henry J. Venter
Despite the prevalence of openness in modern organizations, many Western societies and their leaders are currently advocating for closeness and isolation. This paper examines how Abraham Maslow, before his death, identified a sixth tier of need—self-transcendence—beyond his original hierarchy. The authors argue that a worldwide focus on self-transcendence among academia, organizational leaders, and political leaders can counteract the trend toward closeness and isolation among countries and cultures.