Morrie and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Assignment Example

Where do you think Morrie is on Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? Does Morrie's experience serve as an example of the theory or does it disprove the theory? Why? Morrie reached the highest level on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs which is Self-actualizing needs. People who reached this stage are self-aware. They are more concerned with personal growth, and less with the opinions of other people (Cherry, n.d.). Maslow characterized the people who reached this stage as those who view world with sense of appreciation such that simple experiences become source of inspiration and pleasure (Cherry, n.d.). They are also people who get concerned of solving issues and problems of others and not themselves and are motivated by personal responsibility (Cherry, n.d.). Self-actualized people demonstrate acceptance and realism of themselves, other people and the world (Cherry, n.d.). According to Morrie, we need not be stuck in obeying our culture if it doesn’t work for us. If the culture does not make us feel good about ourselves, we have to stop conforming to it. Morrie also talked about appreciation of the world that is different than how we appreciate it today. According to him, when we realize that we are going to die, we will see and appreciate things differently. Morrie even talked about appreciating the window, the things he saw and felt, to Mitch even if he can’t do things like Mitch can. Morrie’s experience served an example of the theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. According to him, when we reached the stage that we know we are going to die, things matter differently. 2) Where is Morrie on Kubler-Rosses 5 stages of grief? Site specific passages in the book where Morrie expresses feelings of denial, isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance if he does at all. Would Morrie agree that we go through these stages as Kubler-Ross describes? Morrie is on the 5th stage of Kubler-Rosses 5 stages of grief which is acceptance. According to the stages of grief, acceptance is not being OK or all right with what has happened, instead it is about accepting the reality and recognizing this as the permanent reality (“The Five Stages of Grief, n.d.). Morrie accepted his new reality by focusing not on what he had lost but what he gained having ALS. As he said, “I may be dying, but I am surrounded by loving, caring souls. How many people can say that?” When he was interviewed by Ted Koppel, he said “Ted, when all this started, I asked myself, 'Am I going to withdraw from the world, like most people do, or am I going to live?' I decided I'm going to live–or at least try to live–the way I want, with dignity, with courage, with humor, with composure. There are some mornings when I cry and cry and mourn for myself. Some mornings, I'm so angry and bitter. But it doesn't last too long. Then I get up and say, 'I want to live …” Morrie would agree that we will go through these stages as we go along our lives. He himself also came to a point when he questioned how things just go on normally outside when he has a disease that is terminal and got no cure. He once cried and cried about what happened to him. But the good thing with Morrie, is he was able to overcome all these stages successfully and accepted what happened to him. 3) Morrie addresses life as much as dying. What is his main message to the reader? His main message to the reader is to accept and learn how to die for us to learn how to live. According to Morrie, it is only when we realize and accept that we are going to die that we see things differently. We appreciate what we have and nothing else matters most but love. 4) Why are ego and vanity problems for young adults today according to Morrie? According to Morrie, ego and vanity became problems for young adults today because these make them have very little understanding about life. Young adults today are living without knowing what’s really going on. Instead, they are being manipulated by people telling them that vanity and ego matters most. 5) Site an example of when Morrie must show humility. Morrie, despite prominent doctor of Sociology, he still remained a good adviser, coach, teacher and friend to Mitch and to other people. He never boasted about his achievements, instead he shared his knowledge to everybody. Despite his health condition, he still wanted to help other people by letting them know what he knew, his experiences and his story. According to him, giving to other people makes him alive. It is not giving material things but with his time when he can make other people smile. 6) When does Morrie seem the saddest? Morrie seem the saddest whenever he thinks about leaving the people he loves most, his family. He believed that love is supremely important. He raised his family with so much love and care. He is not sad that he is dying. He is sad because he will be leaving his loved ones soon. 7) What keeps Morrie going in this difficult time? What keeps Morrie going in this difficult time is his family. He believed that they are the foundation and secure ground that makes him stand strong despite his illness. It is the support, love and care of his family that made him become stronger in his difficult time. 8) What does he say about communication with his old friend Murray? Could you do this? 9) What does Morrie have to offer in regards to the importance of socialization in our lives? Socialization is important in our lives. But according to him, we must not let our community control how we think and what we value. Morrie stated that we must not let anyone or any society determine big things for us. 10) What does Morrie think is the meaning of life? According to Morrie, the meaning of life is devoting yourself to love others, to community around you and to create something that gives yourself purpose and meaning. 11) What differences did you find between the Morrie in the book and the Morrie in the video? Did seeing the video enhance the reading of the book in any way? There are really no big difference seeing Morrie in the video and as described in the book. However, watching the interviews of Ted Koppel showed how he was suffering during those times and how his body was deteriorating. The later interviews, Morrie’s words are hardly understandable. Seeing the video enhanced the reading of the book by letting the audience feel the pain and anguish on Morrie’s part. References: Cherry, Kendra (n.d.). Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Actualization and the Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved 30 October 2011 from http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm Five Stages of Grief, (n.d.). 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