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<blockquote class="definition">'''Human Diminution''' refers to the "loss or not-yet-actualization of human capacities and possibilities."<ref>Maslow, A. H. ''The Farther Reaches of Human Nature'' New York: Viking, 1971. p. 5-6</ref> According to Maslow, human diminution is caused by toxic environments. This term is syncretic with the LP term [[Diminishment]], one of the [[5Ds of Toxic Existence]].
<blockquote class="definition">'''Human Diminution''' refers to the "loss or not-yet-actualization of human capacities and possibilities,"<ref>Maslow, A. H. ''The Farther Reaches of Human Nature'' New York: Viking, 1971. p. 5-6</ref> a falling away from full humanness. According to Maslow, human diminution is caused by toxic environments. This term is syncretic with the LP term [[Diminishment]], one of the [[5Ds of Toxic Existence]].


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==Concept Map==
==Concept Map==


===Abraham Maslow Terms===
=== Key Terms===
 
[[Eupsychia]] > [[Eupsychian Theory]] > {{#ask:[[Is a key term::Eupsychian Theory]]|format=ul}}
 
[[Human Potential]] > {{#ask:[[Is a term::Human Potential]]|format=ul|sort=Has sort order}}


{{#ask:[[Is a term::Abraham Maslow]]}}
[[Human Diminution]] > {{#ask:[[Is a key term::Human Diminution]]}}


===Syncretic Terms===
===Syncretic Terms===


[[Diminishment]] > {{#ask:[[Is a syncretic term::Diminishment]]}}
[[Human Diminution]] > {{#ask:[[Is a syncretic term::Human Diminution]]}}


===Related LP Terms===  
===Related LP Terms===  
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==Notes==
==Notes==


Maslow was very clear on the importance of the environment.
=== Key Characteristics ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Aspect
!Description
|-
|'''Core Concept'''
|Loss or failure to actualize inherent human potentialities and capacities
|-
|'''Nature'''
|Exists on a continuum (matter of degree and quantity)
|-
|'''Observability'''
|More externally observable and behavioral than traditional psychiatric symptoms like anxiety or repression
|-
|'''Scope'''
|Includes standard psychiatric categories, stunting from poverty/exploitation/maleducation, existential disorders, character disorders, value pathologies, drug addiction, psychopathy, authoritarianism, and criminality
|-
|'''Distinction from Medical Model'''
|Not considered "illness" in the medical sense (unlike brain tumors or bacterial infections), but rather a '''spiritual disorder''' related to loss of meaning, courage, hope, or purpose. A failure to live up to one's full potential, to actualize.
|}
 
=== What It Replaces ===
Maslow explicitly uses "human diminution" '''instead of "neurosis"''', which he considers an obsolete, medically-inaccurate term implying "illness of the nerves."
 
=== Underlying Causes ===
Primarily social, economic, political, religious, educational, philosophical, axiological, and familial determinants—'''not''' physical or chemical factors (which play only a minor role).
 
=== Summary ===
In essence, human diminution describes any condition where a person fails to realize their full human potential, whether due to external oppression (poverty, enslavement) or internal/spiritual crises (loss of meaning, despair, self-dislike).


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
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of course, brings up the obvious conclusion that, if "health and illness" on the medical model are seen as obsolete, so also must
of course, brings up the obvious conclusion that, if "health and illness" on the medical model are seen as obsolete, so also must
the medical concepts of "treatment" and "cure" and the authoritative doctor be discarded and replaced."<ref>Maslow, A. H. ''The Farther Reaches of Human Nature'' New York: Viking, 1971. p. 33-4.</ref>
the medical concepts of "treatment" and "cure" and the authoritative doctor be discarded and replaced."<ref>Maslow, A. H. ''The Farther Reaches of Human Nature'' New York: Viking, 1971. p. 33-4.</ref>
===Abraham Maslow Terms===
{{#ask:[[Is a term::Abraham Maslow]]}}
{{template:endstuff}}
{{template:endstuff}}


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[[Is a term::Abraham Maslow| ]]
[[Is a term::Abraham Maslow| ]]
[[Is a syncretic term::Diminishment| ]]
[[Is a syncretic term::Diminishment| ]]
[[Is a term::Human Potential| ]]
[[Has sort order::1| ]]
[[Is a related term::D-Cognition| ]]
[[Is a related term::D-Cognition| ]]
[[Is a related term::Disconnection| ]]
[[Is a related term::Disconnection| ]]
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[[Is a related term::Deficiency Disease| ]]
[[Is a related term::Deficiency Disease| ]]
[[Is a related term::5Ds of Toxic Existence| ]]
[[Is a related term::5Ds of Toxic Existence| ]]
 
[[Is a related term::Neurosis| ]]
[[File:Maslow-Normalcy.jpg|center|What Happened?]]
[[Is a related term::Jonah Complex| ]]

Latest revision as of 05:27, 27 February 2026

Human Diminution

Human Diminution refers to the "loss or not-yet-actualization of human capacities and possibilities,"[1] a falling away from full humanness. According to Maslow, human diminution is caused by toxic environments. This term is syncretic with the LP term Diminishment, one of the 5Ds of Toxic Existence.

Concept Map

Key Terms

Eupsychia > Eupsychian Theory >

Human Potential >

Human Diminution > D-Cognition, Stress

Syncretic Terms

Human Diminution >

Related LP Terms

Human Diminution > 5Ds of Toxic Existence, Human Potential, Toxic Socialization

Non LP Related Terms

Human Diminution > Deficiency Diseases, Full Humanness, Jonah Complex, Neurosis

Notes

Key Characteristics

Aspect Description
Core Concept Loss or failure to actualize inherent human potentialities and capacities
Nature Exists on a continuum (matter of degree and quantity)
Observability More externally observable and behavioral than traditional psychiatric symptoms like anxiety or repression
Scope Includes standard psychiatric categories, stunting from poverty/exploitation/maleducation, existential disorders, character disorders, value pathologies, drug addiction, psychopathy, authoritarianism, and criminality
Distinction from Medical Model Not considered "illness" in the medical sense (unlike brain tumors or bacterial infections), but rather a spiritual disorder related to loss of meaning, courage, hope, or purpose. A failure to live up to one's full potential, to actualize.

What It Replaces

Maslow explicitly uses "human diminution" instead of "neurosis", which he considers an obsolete, medically-inaccurate term implying "illness of the nerves."

Underlying Causes

Primarily social, economic, political, religious, educational, philosophical, axiological, and familial determinants—not physical or chemical factors (which play only a minor role).

Summary

In essence, human diminution describes any condition where a person fails to realize their full human potential, whether due to external oppression (poverty, enslavement) or internal/spiritual crises (loss of meaning, despair, self-dislike).

Quotes

"...it puts on the same continuum all the standard psychiatric categories, all the stunting, cripplings, and inhibitions that come from poverty. exploitation, maleducation. enslavement. etc., and all the newer value pathologies, existential disorders, character disorders that come to the economically privileged. It handles very nicely the diminutions that result from drug addiction, psychopathy authoritarianism. criminality. and other categories that cannot be called"illness" in the same medical sense as can, e.g., brain tumor.

This is a radical move away from the medical model, a move which is long overdue. Strictly speaking. neurosis means an ill­ness of the nerves a relic we can very well do without today. In addition, using the label "psychological illness" puts neurosis ulcers, lesions, bacterial invasion, broken bones, or tumors. But by now. we have learned very well that it is better to consider neurosis as rather related to spiritual disorders, to loss of meaning, to doubts about the goals of life, to grief and anger over a lost love, to seeing life in a different way. to loss of courage or of hope, to despair over the future, to dislike for oneself, to recognition that one's life is being wasted. or that there is no possibility of joy or love. etc.

These are all failings away from full humanness, from the full blooming of human nature. They are losses of human possibility, of what might have been and could yet be perhaps. Physical and chemical hygiene and prophylaxes certainly have some little place in this realm of psychopathogenesis, but are as nothing in comparison with the far more powerful role of social, economic, political, religious, educational, philosophical, axiological, and familial determinants."[2]

In any case, I think the particular sense in which I suggest interpreting the neurosis as a failure of personal growth must be clear by now. It is a falling short of what one could have been. and even. one could say, of what one should have been biologically speaking, that is, if one had grown and developed in an unimpeded way. Human and personal possibilities have been lost. The world has been narrowed, and so has consciousness. Capacities have been inhibited. I think for instance of the fine pianist who couldn't play before an audience of more than a few. or the phobic who is forced to avoid heights or crowds. The person who can't study. or who can't sleep. or who can't eat many foods has been diminished as surely as the one who has been blinded. The cognitive losses, the lost pleasures, joys, and ecstasies, the loss of competence, the inability to relax, the weakening of will, the fear of responsibility-all these are diminution of humanness."[3]

The solution to human diminution is needs gratification

"Diminution can, of course, be reversible. Very frequently, simply supplying the need gratifications can solve the problem, especially in children. For a child who hasn't been loved enough, obviously the treatment of first choice is to love him to death, to just slop it all over him. Clinical and general human experience is that it works-I don't have any statistics. but I would suspect nine out of ten times. So is respect a wonderful medicine for counteracting a feeling of worthlessness. Which. of course, brings up the obvious conclusion that, if "health and illness" on the medical model are seen as obsolete, so also must the medical concepts of "treatment" and "cure" and the authoritative doctor be discarded and replaced."[4]

Abraham Maslow Terms

Aggridant, B-Cognition, B-Needs, B-Realm, B-Values, Being-Guilt, Big Problem, D-Cognition, D-Realm, Deficiency Diseases, Diminished Human Being, Eupsychia, Eupsychian Biology, Eupsychian Education, Eupsychian Index, Eupsychian Management, Eupsychian Psychology, Eupsychian Science, Eupsychian Society, Eupsychian Theory, Eupsychian Therapist, Eupsychian Therapy, Euspychian Methods, Full Humanness, Fusion Words, Good Chooser, Good Person, Good Science, Good Society, Good Specimen, Growing-Tip Statistics, Hierarchy of Basic Needs, Hierarchy of Cognitive Needs, Horticultural Model, Human Diminution, Human Motivation, Human Potential, Humanistic Psychology, Inner Signals, Intrinsic Conscience, Jonah Complex, Metamotivation, Metapathology, Motivation, Neurosis, Normalcy, Normative Biology, Peak Experience, Plateau Experience, Real Self... further results

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ Maslow, A. H. The Farther Reaches of Human Nature New York: Viking, 1971. p. 5-6
  2. ↑ Maslow, A. H. The Farther Reaches of Human Nature New York: Viking, 1971. p. 29-30.
  3. ↑ Maslow, A. H. The Farther Reaches of Human Nature New York: Viking, 1971. p. 32-33.
  4. ↑ Maslow, A. H. The Farther Reaches of Human Nature New York: Viking, 1971. p. 33-4.







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