Maslow Vs Maslow's Theory

Comparison of the two theories

Operant conditioning was proposed by American psychologist B.F. Skinner in 1938. A.H. Maslow, who was also an American psychologist, first introduced his theory of Hierarchy of Needs (written as Maslow’s theory below) in 1943. Skinner advocates behaviorism while Maslow supports humanism.

Skinner’s theory was based on I.P. Pavlov’s classical conditioning and E.L.Thorndike’s ‘Law of Effect’ (Iversen, 1992). Skinner (1957) later expanded his theory by including schedules of reinforcement.

Maslow’s theory was inspired by E.S. Fromm’s theory of personality (Cooke, Mills & Kelley, 2005). His original five-staged model (physiological, safety, love, esteem and self-actualization needs from basic to less basic order) (Maslow, 1943) was later expanded to include cognitive, aesthetic and self-transcendence needs (Maslow, 1969). One common assumption shared by both theories is that the study of individual should be a whole instead of just emphasizing unconscious mind (Moore & Shantall, 2013). Operant conditioning assumes learning processes are common to all species (Skinner, 1953) that behavior is always determined and “free will is an illusion” (Skinner, 1971). Hence environment alone shapes behavior since responses come to be controlled by their

This can be illustrated by his internal process independent from external stimuli-the need in fulfilling self-actualization, that to maximize his potential in pursuing the goal of overcoming circumstantial limitations and entering university. Maslow (1943) stated that basic needs must be met before less basic ones are aroused. In Yu’s case, his belongingness and love, esteem and cognitive needs had been fulfilled by family support, teachers’ recognitions and knowledge gained through operant conditioning and other forms of learning previously, so he could proceed to the higher-level self-actualization