Huizinga’s book-length write-up demonstrates that he is a true believer in
Maslow’s theory. Yet no matter how many ways he analyzed the data, there
was simply no evidence that workers had a single dominant need, much less
that the need diminished in strength when gratified.
Despite the lack of systematic empirical support, it’s hard to dismiss the
idea that one overriding need governs our behavior until the desire is satisfied.
When the body hurts, concerns for security, love, and esteem do seem to
be pushed into the background. A true test of prepotency can only be made in
a longitudinal study which lasts over a decade or more. The long time span
would give the researcher a chance to spot whether or not changes in motivation
follow the upward pattern that Maslow predicted.