Corruption Among Financially Privileged Actors: A Critical Reappraisal of Maslow’s Theory of Needs

Abstract

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has frequently been used to explain human motivation through the progressive satisfaction of basic needs. However, the involvement of financially privileged actors in corrupt practices raises a major theoretical question about the explanatory power of this model. This article proposes a critical reassessment of Maslow’s theory of needs in order to examine the psychological and psychosocial mechanisms that may explain the persistence of corrupt behaviors beyond satisfying material and security needs. Drawing on the distinction between objective and subjective security, the analysis suggests that corruption could function as a symbolic strategy to enhance perceived security, self-esteem, and power. The article also highlights a possible distortion of higher-order needs - in particular self-esteem and self-fulfillment - when they are exercised in institutional contexts characterized by the normalization of corruption. In conclusion, this contribution highlights the limits of a strictly hierarchical interpretation of human needs and argues for an integrative approach articulating psychological needs, power dynamics and social norms in the analysis of corruption.