Self-Esteem and Maslow's Theory. Or, an Elephant and a Poodle.

When the author was a student, she and her friends loved the Maslow's theory that they learned in one of their economics classes. The theory has 5 steps of the "Hierarchy of Needs." or "A Theory of Human Motivation."

The 1st step, or the lowest is, the most fundamental, basic physical needs: food, water, shelter, and clothing. The 5th step is-the most advanced, it is, where a person grows into noble traits of character; having dignity, honor, and morality; high creativity, problems solving abilities; treating everyone equally, doing great things for others.

On this self-actualization step, a person has, reached such a level of personal and intellectual development that he is, looking how to help others and society. It becomes a higher calling for her or him.

The author's friends and her, started claiming that they already had reached the "self-actualization" step.