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Election Day, USA 2024
2024, the day after Election Day in the USA, I felt a deep sadness, not the typical sort but an anchoring weight deep down. It felt visceral, and I found myself wondering why. We have had elections before, so what makes this one different?
As I began to process, I thought about the stages of grief and our tendency to search for meaning, trying to understand. Having worked in user research, I am so accustomed to exploring the motivations behind why people act, think, and believe in specific ways. My curiosity has always driven my work, and now here I am, reaching back to it personally—to grasp for frameworks to make sense of this moment. Yes, I'm a total research nerd. I turned to concepts like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Yuval Noah Harari's "Sapiens" for insights. I remember learning about Maslow's Hierarchy in college. It always stuck with me. Maybe as a broke art student, I was afraid I'd always be stuck at the bottom rung.
I wondered if the visceral reactions stem from our survival instincts, especially the need for belonging. Belonging is one of the most robust human drives, a holdover from early societies where belonging was crucial for survival. This can foster what's known as "false consensus bias"—the tendency to assume others share our beliefs.
Contrasting views, especially on divisive issues, can shake even the most even-keeled of us, evoking emotions like concern, dismay, or even isolation. So many of my friends and family members have been struggling in the last few days.
Add to this the constant social media and political feedback loops of today, which enforce standard views and keep us in our "bubbles." This echo chamber effect may deepen our sense of security with our group while heightening our shock at exposure to other points of view.
Looking at Maslow's Pyramid of Needs, what it tells us about motivation, and its criticisms might help us better understand this—at least, this is what my Virgo, ENFJ brain hoped. Though Maslow's model suggests a progression from basic needs to self-actualization, more recent research has pointed out the limitations of this approach, especially concerning different cultures. For example, collective societies emphasize community and belonging over fulfilling individual needs, dispelling Maslow's model's linearity.
Differences in Needs Across Cultures and Contexts
Studies have shown that Maslow's hierarchy only holds up sometimes. For example, in cultures where community is highly valued, people may sacrifice personal safety in favor of social cohesion, which runs against the order that Maslow proposed. Each cultural dimension—collectivism and individualism—is a lens through which societies and individuals view and prioritize their needs, requiring adaptability in motivation.
Human drive is not static; it changes with circumstances, beliefs, and context. Try researching pricing with customers, and you'll see what I mean! Others will strive for personal growth or creative expression, even in financially uncertain times. Some critics of Maslow's strict hierarchy have argued that motivations often overlap and that aspirations can shift dynamically.
Exploring Alternative Motivation Models
SDT, developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, offers an alternative approach. It emphasizes autonomy, competence, and relatedness as central motivators—that is, people seek to meet these needs in various contexts rather than progress through levels. Another pyramid modification comes from psychologist Douglas Kenrick, who considered the evolutionary pressures of survival and reproduction rather than a strict needs hierarchy. It's the pressures of survival that feel like they are at play here- belong or perish.
Maslow later added transcendence, suggesting that some seek meaning beyond themselves—a valuable perspective when facing challenges. This adaptation shows a more nuanced view of motivation that rings true when we consider how individuals are driven by community bonds, purpose, and growth, even in adversity.
Some research has shown that people tend to favor relationships and shared values over individual safety in crises. Such adaptability portrays the remarkable resilience of human needs and motivations. Likewise, poverty research would indicate that people seek purpose, self-esteem, or belonging even before meeting basic needs, pointing out our ability to adapt our motivations.
Reflecting on this, I was buoyed by the idea that the motivational landscape of a human being is complex; different dimensions are formed by social norms, individual beliefs, and changing circumstances. During divisive times, our natural "false consensus bias"—assuming others think like us—can make us feel isolated when exposed to opposing views, especially inside social media echo chambers. Now multiply that by MILLIONS in a political season. No wonder so many people are "bummed," to put it lightly.
How religion Factors in
Religion also plays a vital role in times of uncertainty, providing stability, a connection, and a sense of purpose that supports survival and self-transcendence. That reflects the adaptability of our motivation, where even in hardship, people often find meaning in their beliefs and communities. The complication comes in when the religious framework one might cling to to make sense of the world conflicts with the beliefs of others. That is a recipe for some intense disagreement.
While Maslow's Pyramid provides insights into our basic drives, a more flexible and culturally sensitive approach is required to understand human motivations. Most motivations aren’t linear; they overlap and adapt. For example, my need to purchase a piece Muppet memorabilia, Beaker , isn’t just about collecting—it’s tapping into my inner frentic energy (because who doesn’t feel like Beaker sometimes?). And my need for Kermit? That’s about finding calm in the storm, hoping a little of his patience rubs off. Like Maslow’s hierarchy, my Muppet needs hit multiple levels—from pure energy to a sense of calm and order.
By allowing for complexity in
In closing, I believe our drive to seek connection is a beautiful reflection of our shared humanity. But, I think there's an opportunity here to understand one another more deeply, to learn from communal cultures, and perhaps soften the focus on individualism. While individualism fuels personal achievement, it can sometimes leave the most vulnerable in our society behind. And no, I'm not just saying, "Why can't we all just get along?" but I wonder.. can we work toward a future that includes and uplifts everyone by embracing a more connected approach?
Sources
1. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
Maslow, A. H. (1943) A Theory of Human Motivation*. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396.
Kenrick, D. T., Griskevicius, V., Neuberg, S. L., & Schaller, M. (2010)
Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations
Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(3), 292–314.
2. Self-Determination Theory (SDT):
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior*. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
This foundational work on SDT explains the core psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which offer a complementary view to Maslow’s model.
3. False Consensus Effect
Ross, L., Greene, D., & House, P. (1977). The “false consensus effect”: An egocentric bias in social perception and attribution processes*. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 13(3), 279–301.
4. Cultural Perspectives on Individualism and Collectivism:
Hofstede, G. (1984) Cultural dimensions in management and planning*. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 1(2), 81–99.
Triandis, H. C. (1995)Individualism & collectivism* Westview Press.
5. Impacts of Social Media and Echo Chambers:
Sunstein, C. R. (2001) Echo chambers: Bush v. Gore, impeachment, and beyond*. Princeton University Press.
Pariser, E. (2010)The filter bubble: What the internet is hiding from you*. Penguin Books.
6. Yuval Noah Harari’s Exploration of Human Society and Motivation:
Harari, Y. N. (2015)**. *Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Harper.
7. Human Needs During Crisis:
Bonanno, G. A., Brewin, C. R., Kaniasty, K., & La Greca, A. M. (2010) Weighing the costs of disaster: Consequences, risks, and resilience in individuals, families, and communities Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 11(1), 1–49.
8. Religion’s Role in Societal Stability:
Durkheim, E. (1912) The elementary forms of religious life*. Free Press (Translation 1995).