2010-07-09
Explanation
This comic is presented as an "SMBC Papercraft" project: "Make Your Own Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Flipbook." It shows a sequence of images depicting Maslow's famous pyramid -- which ranks human needs from basic physiological needs at the bottom to self-actualization at the top -- but "modified to account for change over time."
The flipbook sequence begins with the standard pyramid (physiological needs, safety, belonging, self-esteem, self-actualization). In each successive frame, a pink blob labeled "Masturbation" appears at the top and gradually expands downward, consuming each tier of the pyramid one by one. It first overtakes self-actualization and self-esteem, then belonging, then safety, until eventually masturbation has consumed nearly the entire pyramid, leaving only a sliver of physiological needs visible. In the final frames, the pyramid returns to its original state, and the cycle appears ready to begin again.
The joke is a commentary on how masturbation (or more broadly, base physical gratification) can overwhelm all higher aspirations and needs. The flipbook format suggests this is a cyclical process: a person starts with noble goals and self-improvement, gets sidetracked by physical urges that gradually dominate their entire motivation structure, and then eventually resets to try again. The "tissue" label that briefly appears at the self-actualization level during the recovery phase is a crude but telling detail.
The votey panel provides an additional triangle labeled "Insert Anywhere" with the text "See if anyone's about to come in," adding a furtive, paranoid dimension to the masturbation joke and suggesting this extra step should be inserted into the hierarchy at any point.