“You can see neurosis from below – as a sickness – as most psychiatrists see it. Or you can understand it as a compassionate man might: respecting the neurosis as a fumbling and inefficient effort toward good ends.”
- April 1, 1908 – June 8, 1970
- American
- Psychologist, Creator of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Humanistic Psychology Pioneer
table of contents
Quote
“You can see neurosis from below – as a sickness – as most psychiatrists see it. Or you can understand it as a compassionate man might: respecting the neurosis as a fumbling and inefficient effort toward good ends.”
Explanation
In this quote, Abraham Maslow challenges the traditional medical view of neurosis as merely a pathological condition, offering instead a more humanistic and empathetic interpretation. He contrasts the clinical detachment of many psychiatrists—who view neurosis strictly as a disorder—with a compassionate perspective that sees it as a distorted but meaningful attempt to fulfill deeply human needs. To Maslow, neurosis is not a sign of moral failure or pure dysfunction, but a misguided struggle toward psychological health and self-actualization.
This idea is rooted in Maslow’s broader framework of human motivation. He believed that behaviors often labeled “neurotic” are frequently compensatory responses to unmet needs—such as the need for love, safety, esteem, or meaning. These behaviors may be maladaptive, but they are not purposeless. Instead, they represent an individual’s attempt to navigate a world where fundamental emotional or existential needs have been blocked. By reframing neurosis this way, Maslow opens the door to greater compassion and more effective therapeutic approaches that seek to understand rather than simply eliminate symptoms.
In today’s therapeutic landscape, this perspective influences humanistic and person-centered approaches, where the focus is on understanding the client’s inner experience rather than pathologizing it. Whether in counseling, education, or everyday relationships, Maslow’s insight reminds us that beneath dysfunction often lies an earnest, if clumsy, attempt to live well. The key is not condemnation, but support—helping people find clearer, healthier paths to the good ends they already yearn for.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
