Maslow's Hierarchy: Story-Building And 'breaking Bad'

Most of us have heard of the theory of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. For those who haven't, Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist, who theorised the needs of a person, in a triangular or a pyramid form.

Here is a picture of it:

The physiological needs refer to the survival needs. Food, water, air, health - the most basic and important needs. Safety refers to the security - of self, family; stability, shelter, financial, etc.

Then come the psychological needs. Firstly, that of love or having a feeling of belonging. That involves everything from friendship to brotherhood, family and romantic relations. Next is esteem, that is about self love. Confidence, achievements, respect from others, all come under this.

Lastly comes the need about self fulfillment: self actualisation. This involves a person's morality, development, creativity, self respect, achieving one's full potentials and strengths.

Now, how is this related to stories or movies?
Since stories are too written about events in a character's life, they are designed around the needs from the hierarchy chart. Most are based on one of the needs. Some are even designed around a combination of more than one need.

The love stories are made on the third need. But the 'love’ can be for anything. Any being, any relation or can even be love for nation, money, etc.

What makes 'Breaking Bad’ the best series ever written and made?

'Breaking Bad’ shows the perfect character development of Walter White. From season 1 to season 5, the gradual conversion of the character from a timid chemistry professor to a badass drug lord and a hardened criminal, is what makes this series the most well written.

What other factor makes it the most well written series, is that it fulfills all the needs of Maslow's hierarchy chart. And that too, in the sequence. And this, is the rarest thing ever seen in show or a movie.

It begins with Walter White discovering he has cancer, and struggling for physiological needs of his own health and survival. Then comes the safety - his worrying about financial safety of his family and thus deciding to make meth. His love for his family remains a constant motivation to his character, throughout the series.

As he begins getting good at meth business, his confidence increases and that's what then pushes him forward to keep working, thus increasing his achievements - esteem.

Lastly, when he gets his God complex, on becoming Heisenberg, he has achieved his full potential- self actualisation. He now has ill morals and his development, his achievement of the full potential is what takes the story forward and ends it.

All through the series, his love for his family is constant and also, getting to safety from several criminals and the police is what remains constant.

Satisfying all the needs of Maslow's hierarchy chart sequentially, is what makes 'Breaking Bad’ the most well written series.