Maslow’s Hierarchy of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needsneeds

Who is Maslow?Who is Maslow?

Abraham Maslow Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) (1908-1970)

PsychologistPsychologist Wrote “A Theory of Wrote “A Theory of

Human Motivation” Human Motivation” (1943) (1943)

Wrote “Motivation and Wrote “Motivation and Personality” (1954)Personality” (1954)

Born in Brooklyn, Born in Brooklyn, New York New York

Maslow studied what he called exemplary Maslow studied what he called exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglass rather than Douglass rather than mentally illmentally ill or or neuroticneurotic people. He believed that the study of people. He believed that the study of stunted, immature, and unhealthy stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens could yield only a stunted specimens could yield only a stunted psychology/philosophy. Maslow also studied psychology/philosophy. Maslow also studied the healthiest 1% of the college student the healthiest 1% of the college student population.population.

Maslow’s Theory Maslow’s Theory

Everybody has a set of needs that need to Everybody has a set of needs that need to be gratified. be gratified.

The journey starts with the most basic The journey starts with the most basic needs, known as physiological needs. needs, known as physiological needs.

Once the needs on one level have been Once the needs on one level have been gratified, people can move on to the next gratified, people can move on to the next level of needs. level of needs.

After gratification of the bottom 4 levels, After gratification of the bottom 4 levels, the individual may achieve self- the individual may achieve self-

actualization.actualization.

Physiological needsPhysiological needs

The physiological needs are those which a person The physiological needs are those which a person needs to survive in daily life. They are innate needs needs to survive in daily life. They are innate needs that humans unconsciously strive to fulfill. that humans unconsciously strive to fulfill.

•Food

•Water

•Shelter

•Sleep

There are many people that may never get past this level. They remain dominated by the need to fulfill their physiological needs.

Safety needsSafety needs

Ideally, in our culture, safety is usually not an issue for Ideally, in our culture, safety is usually not an issue for infants and adolescents because we are protected by infants and adolescents because we are protected by parents. But as we move on in life, things are constantly parents. But as we move on in life, things are constantly changing and the defenses that we knew as a child are no changing and the defenses that we knew as a child are no longer there. “Safety needs” is the stage where we strive to longer there. “Safety needs” is the stage where we strive to fulfill things such as:fulfill things such as:

• Security

• Dependency

• Protection

• Freedom from fears

• Need for structure

• Health and well being

Belonging/love/social needsBelonging/love/social needs Although now safe, the person who has reached Although now safe, the person who has reached

this level of needs will feel alone, rejected, and this level of needs will feel alone, rejected, and friendless. The person at this level will seek to friendless. The person at this level will seek to find:find:

• Friendships

• Intimacy (both physical and emotional)

•Sense of roots

• Affection from others

• Having supportive and communicative family interaction

In rare occurrences, the need for love and belonging can transcend physiological and safety needs.

Esteem needsEsteem needs

These needs can be classified according to These needs can be classified according to two different areas. two different areas. First comes the need for personal achievement, First comes the need for personal achievement,

independence, and freedom.independence, and freedom.Second comes the desire for reputation and prestige, the Second comes the desire for reputation and prestige, the

concern with how others perceive you. concern with how others perceive you. If the needs at this level are met, it leads to an overall self- If the needs at this level are met, it leads to an overall self-

confidence, self- worth, the feeling of being useful and confidence, self- worth, the feeling of being useful and necessary. necessary.

If these needs are not met, it can lead to inferiority, and If these needs are not met, it can lead to inferiority, and helplessness. If Esteem needs are never met, it can lead to helplessness. If Esteem needs are never met, it can lead to neurotic behavior.neurotic behavior.

Self actualization needsSelf actualization needsEven if all the other needs are met, some Even if all the other needs are met, some

people may never reach the step of self- people may never reach the step of self- actualization.actualization.

In order for a person to fulfill this need, they In order for a person to fulfill this need, they must be doing something they love. must be doing something they love.

ie. a musician must make music…ie. a musician must make music…The specific form by which this need is met The specific form by which this need is met

varies from person to person, as each varies from person to person, as each individual has a unique desire. individual has a unique desire.

Maslow ExpandedMaslow Expanded

Since Maslow developed his theory in 1943, many Since Maslow developed his theory in 1943, many psychologists have attempted to use his theory to psychologists have attempted to use his theory to help explain their work. As a result, there have been help explain their work. As a result, there have been modifications to Maslow’s work.modifications to Maslow’s work.

Beyond the basic five levels of needs, we can now Beyond the basic five levels of needs, we can now identify…identify…

Cognitive needsCognitive needsAesthetic needsAesthetic needsSelf-transcendenceSelf-transcendence

How Maslow is essential to understanding identityHow Maslow is essential to understanding identity

Every person comes from a different background and has a different Every person comes from a different background and has a different inner life. It is important to understand where every individual is inner life. It is important to understand where every individual is located in their struggle to ascend the pyramid.located in their struggle to ascend the pyramid.

This will help us to understand why a person is in a ‘survival’ mode…. This will help us to understand why a person is in a ‘survival’ mode…. Perhaps he/she has not had breakfast this morning. Perhaps, due Perhaps he/she has not had breakfast this morning. Perhaps, due to her location, her ethnicity, or her colour, she is a victim of to her location, her ethnicity, or her colour, she is a victim of violence, bigotry, and discrimination.violence, bigotry, and discrimination.

Understanding Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one step towards Understanding Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one step towards becoming more tolerant and accepting of others. becoming more tolerant and accepting of others.