Notes on needs and ikigai (生き甲斐)

As studies mentioned in the Criticism section of Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggest, the constructs, comprehensiveness, or fit of levels may vary according to age, broad socio-cultural characteristics, and local or geopolitical circumstances. Nevertheless, conceivable conflation of needs for self-actualization and self-transcendence seem to reflect notions attributed to ikikai (生き甲斐), for example: "the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile" and "mental and spiritual circumstances under which individuals feel that their lives are valuable" (Ikikai, ¶4 [supporting references absent], 2017.03.11).