Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Maslow 1954,1970

Theory = our actions are motivated by certain physiological and psychological needs that progress from basic to complex.

• the hierarchy suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced needs.

Growth Needs = needs that don’t stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to grow as a person. E.g., self-actualization (and the expanded hierarchy of needs).

Deficiency needs = needs that need to be met in order to avoid unpleasant feelings or consequences. E.g., physiological, safety, love and belonging, and esteem.

Maslow’s original hierarchy:

Maslow’s expanded hierarchy:

1. Physiological needs = biological requirements for human survival.

• For example: air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, and sleep.

• human body cannot function optimally if these needs are not satisfied

1. Safety needs = people want to experience order, predictability, and control in their lives.

• For example: emotional security, financial security, law and order, freedom from social stability, property, health, and wellbeing.

• can be fulfilled by the family and society (e.g., police, schools, business, and medical care)

1. Love and belongingness needs = refers to a human emotion need for interpersonal relationships, affiliating, connectedness, and being part of a group.

• For example: friendship, intimacy, trust, acceptance, receiving and giving affection, and love.

• especially strong in childhood and can override the need for safety, as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents

1. Esteem needs = presents the typical human desire to be accepted and valued by others (give the person a sense of contribution or value).

• 2 categories

• Esteem for oneself (e.g., dignity, achievement, mastery, independence)

• The desire for reputation or respect from other (e.g., status and prestige)

1. *Cognitive needs = centres around knowledge; people want to learn about the world and their place in it.

2. *Aesthetic needs = appreciation of beauty and form. People might fulfill this need through enjoying music, art, literature etc.

3. Self-actualization needs = refer to the realization of a person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak experiences.

• Maslow didn’t believe that many of us could achieve true self-actualization, he believed all of us experienced transitory moments known as ‘peak experiences’ of self actualization

• these are difficult to achieve and maintain consistently, associated with personally significant events e.g., childbirth, sporting achievement and examination success

1. *Transcendence needs = helping others, practising spirituality and connecting with nature could meet these needs.