Abraham Maslow's Theory of Human Needs In the late 1960's Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchical theory of human needs. Maslow is a humanistic psychologist believing that people are not controlled by mechanical forces (the stimuli and reinforcement forces of behaviorism) or unconscious instinctual impulses of psychoanalysis. Maslow focused on human potential, believing the humans strive to reach the highest levels of their capabilities. People seek the frontiers of creativity, and strive to reach the highest levels of consciousness and wisdom. People at this level were labeled by other psychol