Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory comprises five hierarchical levels of human needs, usually represented within a pyramid. It states that individuals have to satisfy the requirements at the lower level before attending those on the higher one. The psychological need is the first one and depicted at the bottom. Safety need is the second one, followed by love and belonging. Esteem is the fourth one, and self-actualization tops the list.

Description of needs at each level

Psychological need

These are the biological needs necessary for each person. They include air, food, water, warmth, shelter, clothing, sex, and sleep. The body cannot function optimally without these needs. According to Maslow, these psychological needs are essential requirements in a person, and all the others are secondary. Secondary needs cannot be met before the psychological ones.

Safety needs

Human beings need to feel secure. This need is quite essential. They require to live in a country that is stable politically and economically. They need laws and orders to feel secure. They also need law enforcers and protection from wildlife.

Love and Belongingness needs

After meeting the psychological and safety requirements, people like being loved, loving, and having a sense of belonging to become fulfilled. These are social needs. The people begin requiring interpersonal relationships with others, such as acceptance, friendship, and intimacy.

Esteem needs

Esteem need is categorized into two; personal esteem that is, dignity, independence, achievement, and mastery. The other one is a desire for respect and reputation from other people. Maslow claimed that the desire for respect and reputation in children us higher than that of dignity or self-esteem.

Self-actualization needs

After achieving psychological, safety, love and belonging, and esteem needs, a person begins desiring to be everything he/she can become. It is at this stage that one seeks personal growth and self-fulfillment.

What is required to satisfy each level

One requires to meet the needs of the previous level to move to the next one. For example, after satisfying the psychological needs, one is motivated to move to the next level of needs.

Ways an employer could meet each level of need to help an employee become self-actualized

Although employees have different needs, an employer needs to ensure that the workers get a salary that can meet their basic needs. Employers should also provide employees an environment where they feel valued, accepted, and loved. They should also have a sense of belonging. Involving them in decision making can make them feel valued, and a part of the family.

How Maslow’s theory can help me identify my needs and set a goal to meet them

Maslow’s theory can help me identify my needs by evaluating my life and knowing the needs I am lacking. If, for example, I do not have enough food, then I know that I cannot feel secure or even be able to love or feel loved. Assessing my life will help me identify the needs I need to address. If food or clothing is my need, then I should look for an income to meet the need.

Humanistic Perspective of Personality Development

People’s personality develops as they fulfill their needs in Maslow’s hierarchy. After satisfying the most basic needs (water, shelter, and food), people are motivated to try and meet the other requirements but hierarchically. They do not rest until they get to the highest need, self-actualization. At this level, people seek for personal development or maximizing their internal growth. Carl Rogers claimed that people could only reach self-actualization after developing an objective sense of themselves. People who grew up in a loving environment have a corresponding view of themselves and are more likely to attain self-actualization than those who had a hostile environment.

Conclusion

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in five hierarchical levels that is, psychological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. After meeting the psychological need, individuals get motivated to achieve the next one on the hierarchy until they get to the top one, which is self-actualization. People who live and have grown up in a loving environment are most likely to become self-actualized that those who did not.