What Makes Us Happy?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
In 1943 American psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs to explain human motivation (Cherry, 2023). The hierarchy suggests that humans fulfill their needs in a specific order in the pursuit of happiness. Basic physiological needs such as food and sleep must be met in order to achieve more complex intellectual needs like self-actualization.
Think about your life from birth to now in light of Maslow's hierarchy. You may be thinking that your needs are not that linear, and I would agree with you. Think back to high school. It's likely that in high school your physiological and safety needs were being met by your parents or a guardian. You may have had a great group of friends that helped you feel like you belong. Thinking forward, you may have felt that college was the place that you would work toward esteem.
For some of you that may still be the case but for others it may feel like you're working toward multiple needs at once. You may be in a transitional period where for the first time it is your responsibility to ensure that your physiological and safety needs are met. You may also be far away from your friends and family and feel lonely. All of that and you are building esteem by working toward your career goals. That can be a lot to manage.
Depression in College Students
- A 2021 study found that 44% of college students have depression (Heinze, 2023).
- According to Johann Hari depression is a direct result of having unmet needs.
Community
In his video "Depression and the Secret to Happiness" Johann Hari discusses how a societal push toward Neo-liberalism and individualism cause higher rates of depression. Fulfilled needs are integral to happiness. Ancient societies used to rely on community to fulfill the needs of everyone. Modern society puts pressure on the individual to fulfill their own needs (Hari, 2018). This method does not sustain happiness especially as one of Maslow's key needs is a sense of belonging to a community.
At a glance, social media seems like a great solution for community building but is it really? While it is true that social media can help you make connections world-wide, it can also amplify offline feelings of loneliness. One cause of this is "FOMO," or the fear of missing out (Miller, 2024). Seeing your friends do something fun on social media can make you feel left out and alone. Constantly checking social media can also pull your time away from offline social interactions.
How to find offline community at UMaine
The University of Maine offers a lot of communities, events, and locations for social interaction but it can be hard to find them if you don't know where to look.
Did You Know...
There are over 100 student organizations and clubs
There are Hundreds of free events held on campus every year
There are hubs on campus where students can hang out, eat, study, and meet like-minded people
One way students can use social media to connect to what's happening on campus is through Instagram. Most organizations affiliated with the university have their own Instagram pages to share upcoming events.
Campus Groups
The best way to use social media to connect to what's happening on campus is through Campus Groups. Campus Groups is a social media platform designed specifically for the purpose of connecting students to university based communities. This app is the one-stop shop to see everything happening on campus.
Reference
Kurt, Serhat. “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Education.” Education Library, 30 Jan. 2021.
Cherry, Kendra. “Abraham Maslow Is the Founder of Humanistic Psychology.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 14 Mar. 2023.
McLeod, Saul. “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” Simply Psychology, 24 Jan. 2024.
Heinze, Justin. “College Students’ Anxiety, Depression Higher than Ever, but so Are Efforts to Receive Care.” News | University of Michigan School of Public Health | Mental Health | Healthy Minds Study |, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 9 Mar. 2023.
Hari, Johann. “Depression and the Secret to Happiness | Johann Hari.” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Aug. 2018.
Miller, Caroline. “Does Social Media Use Cause Depression?” Child Mind Institute, 16 Apr. 2024.