> Home > Expanded Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Human Needs, Self Actualization, Humanistic Psychology (According to Abramah Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied before a person can act unselfis
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Expanded Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Human Needs, Self Actualization, Humanistic Psychology (According to Abramah Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied before a person can act unselfis
U.S. Psychologist Abraham Maslow was born April 1, 1908, New York, N.Y. A practitioner of humanistic psychology, he is known for his theory of “self-actualization.” InMotivation and PersonalityandToward a Psychology of Being, Maslow argued that each person has a hierarchy of needs that must be satisfie
Abraham Maslow (1954) presents ahierarchy of needsmodel which can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (cognitive, aesthetics and self-actualization).
One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs. Once these needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may be able to reach the highest level called self-actualization.
Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by failure to meet lower level needs. Life experiences including divorce and loss of job may cause an individual to fluctuate between levels of he hierarchy. Maslow noted only one in a hundred people become fully self-actualized because our society rewards motivation primarily based on esteem, love and other social needs.
It is important to note that Maslow's (1954) theory has been elaborated upon by other researchers. Maslow's original five-stage model has been adapted by other researchers who have interpreted Maslow's writings to develop both seven and eight-stage hierarchy of needs pyramids.
Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
According to Abramah Maslow, there are general types of needs
(physiological, safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied
before a person can act unselfishly. As long as we are motivated to
satisfy these cravings, we are moving towards growth, toward selfactualization.
Satisfying needs is healthy. Blocking gratification makes us sick or
feel bad. In other words, we are all "needs junkies" with cravings
that must be satisfied and should be satisfied.
Needs are prepotent. A prepotent need is one that has the greatest
influence over our actions. Everyone has a prepotent need, but that
need will vary among individuals.
A teenager may have a need to feel that a group accepts him. A
drug-user will need to satisfy his/her cravings for drugs to function
normally in society, and will not worry about acceptance by other
people. According to Maslow, when the needs of one level are truly
met, then a person can move up to the next level of need.
PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS [Physical: Food & Shelter]
Physiological needs are the very basic needs such as air, water, food, sleep, etc. When these are not satisfied
we may feel sickness, irritation, pain, discomfort, etc. These feelings motivate us to alleviate them as soon as
possible to establish homeostasis. Once they are alleviated, we may think about other things.
SAFETY NEEDS [Physical: Safety & Security]
Safety needs have to do with establishing stability and consistency in a chaotic world. These needs are mostly
psychological in nature. We need the security of a home and family. However, if a family is dysfunction, i.e., an
abusive husband, the wife cannot move to the next level because she is constantly concerned for her safety.
Love and belongingness have to wait until she is no longer cringing in fear. Many in our society cry out for law
and order because they do not feel safe enough to go for a walk in their neighborhood. Many people,
particularly those in the inner cities, unfortunately, are stuck at this level.
LOVE NEEDS [Social: Belonging]
Love and belongingness are next on the ladder. Humans have a desire to belong to groups: clubs, work groups,
religious groups, family, gangs, etc. We need to feel loved (non-sexual) by others, to be accepted by others.
Performers appreciate applause. We need to be needed.
There are two types of esteem needs. First is self-esteem, which results from competence or mastery of a task.
Second, there's the attention and recognition that comes from others. This is similar to the belongingness level,
however, wanting admiration has to do with the need for power. People who have all of their lower needs satisfied;
often drive very expensive cars because doing so raises their level of esteem. "Hey, look what I can afford-peon!"
SELF-ACTUALIZATION [Self: Self-actualization]
The need for self-actualization is "the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one
is capable of becoming." People who have everything can maximize their potential. They can seek knowledge,
peace, esthetic experiences, self-fulfillment, and oneness with God, etc. It is usually middle-class to upper-class
students who take up environmental causes, join the Peace Corps, go off to a monastery, etc.
