Maslow's greatest critic was... Maslow.

This article critically examines the continued emphasis on Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs within educational psychology, highlighting Maslow's own critiques and his later focus on self-transcendence through the plateau experience. It contrasts the peak experience associated with self-actualisation—characterized by intense, often brief moments of ecstasy—with the plateau experience, described by Maslow as a voluntary, serene state involving mindfulness, acceptance of mortality, and sustained cognitive bliss. The article suggests that while Maslow’s hierarchy remains conceptually useful, greater attention should be given to self-transcendence as a more comprehensive framework for personal and spiritual development. It also calls for critical engagement with motivational theories, advocating for evidence-based approaches rather than uncritical repetition of established models.