A comparative inquiry based on psycho- humanist pyramid of needs by Maslowin the Classic Persian literature texts

The concept of comparison has been so long-lasting and durable that can be taken into account as both a humanistic and social tradition. In the present study, with a view toward comparative literature, and from the point of view of the psychological theory of “pyramid of needs” by Abraham Maslow, the authors intend to analyze some classical works such as Faraj Bad az Shedah, Kalile va Damneh, Qaboos-Nameh, Tarikh Beyhaqi, and Ghazaliyat-e Hafez. Drawing on a psycho-literary analysis perspective, the purpose of the present study is to reveal the scope and capacity of each discipline in offering new horizons for future research. The results of this study show that the ideas proposed by humanistic psychologists to represent a motivational analysis of human behavior, such as the one proposed by Maslow, have already been considered in the Persian literature in an explicit or implicit manner. This study, for the first time in the Persian literature, analyzes realistic narratives and proposes two major findings a) the effectiveness of a psychological theory in relation to literature is proven and b) a better understanding of the value of literary texts in representing mental and abstract concepts is gained.