Final answer:
Instances like Mahatma Gandhi's hunger strikes oppose Maslow's assertion that basic needs must be met before higher levels can be addressed, showcasing that higher motives like self-transcendence can spur actions despite unmet basic needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples Against Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a widely referenced framework in various fields such as business and education. It suggests that basic physiological and safety needs must be met before an individual can focus on higher-level needs such as love, esteem, and self-actualization. However, there are behaviors that clearly challenge this hierarchy. For instance, individuals like Mahatma Gandhi have foregone basic physiological needs, such as food during hunger strikes, in order to address higher-level social and political issues. Such acts of self-sacrifice suggest that higher-level motives like self-transcendence can inspire behavior even when basic needs are not satisfied.
Despite its popularity, Maslow's theory has received criticism for its lack of empirical support and inability to account for real-world phenomena. The concept of self-transcendence, which Maslow introduced later in his life, acknowledges that individuals sometimes pursue higher meaning and purpose beyond their own personal needs.