Should Maslow’s Hierarchy Include Technology?
Beyond essential, tech is inexorably tied to the human experience.
Put down that smartphone.
That simple request may be harder than it sounds. While some muse on the potential role of connecting technology directly to our bodies, others may suggest that that the smart phone (and other technologies) are already psychologically connected to your anatomy and physiology. Have you put that smartphone down yet?
Technology is ubiquitous, and it’s empowering life. Innovations like nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, GPT, CRISPR, cryptocurrency, and robotics are redefining the very nature of humanity in the evolving world. In fact, technology is becoming so fundamental to the world we live in that we very well may be lost without it. Lost as in actualized, for the scientist, clinician, patient and human. Technology is becoming so basic and fundamental that it might make sense to add it to the first level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs.
If you need to jog your memory, Maslow’s levels start with the physical needs such as food and shelter. Then they move upward from security to social to ego and ends with the highest level — human actualization. But it’s the bottom of this hierarchy that is interesting. It’s clear that our physical wellness depends on air, food, water, and metabolic requirements to sustain life. And these components that are central to the practice of medicine are defined by respiration, hydration, and nutrition. Simply put, you can’t live without these vital components. But something else is entering the equation of essential components that establish the foundation of Maslow’s stacked hierarchy. It’s technology.
Technology is transforming the way we think about medicine and health, with innovations that are transforming the practice of medicine and how patients engage and manage their care. From smart devices that monitor our vital signs to digital therapeutics that are revolutionizing treatment of chronic diseases, technology has become an essential component of our physical well-being.
At the same time, technology is also becoming increasingly intertwined with our social needs and identity as a society. We use technology to connect with others through social media platforms and online communities. We rely on technology for entertainment and information gathering, from streaming services to news outlets that provide real-time updates on global events. And technology is enabling us to tap into new ways of communicating, collaborating, and learning that are changing the very way we think, interact with others, and express ourselves.
The digital twin represents an interesting perspective. It’s a technology that creates a virtual replica of a physical object, system or person. It can be used for a variety of purposes, including monitoring and managing the object or system in real time. The digital twin has the potential to play a significant role in almost any human environment—from ecology to medicine. In some ways, the digital twin is you. And as technology and AI advance, the similarities may become astonishingly similar. And its role in self-actualization—even when the “self” may exist in the context of a digital reality—will become similarly profound.
So, it seems reasonable that technology may deserve a place in Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs—as part of our need for self-actualization and living in accordance with our full potential as individuals and as a society. But also, there may be a place in the emerging aspects of AI and the digital twin. While technology certainly has its downsides, from privacy concerns to questions about its impact on mental health, there is no denying its transformative power in so many aspects of our lives.
In the final analysis, it’s really simple. When you leave home and forget your bagged lunch, you’ll buy lunch on the fly. But if you leave the house in the morning without your smartphone, it’s almost certain that you’ll hurry back and get it. You see, technology and the Internet are inexorably connected with our humanity. That smartphone is becoming a part of you and plays a role in becoming who you are, from an informed citizen to a healthy individual. Maybe it’s time to take another look at Maslow’s Hierarchy and see how and where technology is demanding to be included.
