Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory is one of the most renowned theory on motivation. The theory was proposed by the American Psychologist and psychologist Abraham H. Maslow in mid 20th Century. Maslow is also known for his self-actualization theory, which advocates integrating the self as a goal of psychotherapy. He believed that psychoanalytic theory and behavioural theory focus too much on the negative aspects of existence, neglecting all of human potential and creativity. Thus, most of his work focuses primarily on maximising well-being and developing one’s potential.
In 1943, Maslow first proposed the theory of needs in his paper “A Theory of Human Motivation”. According to the theory, human motivation is fueled by five levels of needs, ranging from basic to complex, and higher level needs can only be activated when basic needs are met.
Maslow’s Hierarchy Pyramid of Needs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs includes five progressive grades of needs which are;
- Physiological needs
- Safety needs
- Love and belonging needs
- Esteem needs &
- Self-actualisation needs
Symbolically, these five categories of needs are displayed in the form of a pyramid known as Maslow’s pyramid. From bottom to top, the nature of needs changes from physiological to psychological. There are two broad divisions in the pyramid. Firstly, the ‘deficiency needs,’ including the first four levels of Maslow’s pyramid. Secondly, the ‘growth needs,’ formed by the fifth level, self-actualisation.
Usually, deficiency needs occur due to a lack of the most basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, security, comfort, love and respect. On the other hand, growth needs indicate the longing for personal growth including self-realisation, creativity, aesthetic pleasure and spirituality.
1. Physiological Needs
Being the first category of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiological needs include the most basic human necessities. Physiological needs are also known as survival needs as they are essential for our existence. They include;
- Oxygen
- Food
- Water
- Shelter
- Clothing, etc.
Additionally, it includes basic air requirements and temperature regulation. In short, these are needs vital for the mere existence of human life.
2. Safety Needs
Largely, safety needs include those needs that ensure your protection from your fears. As your physiological needs are met, you become concerned about your safety and security. So, in order for people to feel secure in their lives, they want order and control. Thus, a new set of needs, as Maslow called, safety needs arise. They include;
- Secure shelter
- Economic safety
- Environmental safety
- Good physical health
- Employment
- Job security
- Law and order
- Defence, etc.
Additionally, health insurance, retirement plans, and countries buying defence equipment are all efforts to meet safety needs.
Safety and physiological needs are also referred to as “basic needs” in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
3. Love and Belonging needs
According to Maslow, As you progress from physiological and safety needs, societal ties become more important. you start putting efforts into building relationships with family, friends, social groups, etc. These needs are social needs as they drive toward shaping a society. To enlist, social needs include;
- Love
- Intimacy
- Affection
- Sense of belonging
- Family
- Spouse
- Friends
- Social groups
Notedly, at this point in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the nature of needs changes toward psychological well-being.
4. Esteem Needs
Esteem needs show the basic human desire to feel valued. At this level, you start working towards achievements to gain dignity and respect. Esteem needs act as the keys to the topmost rank of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-esteem needs and prestige needs are the two primary categories of esteem needs.
Self-esteem needs or ego needs occur due to your urge to fulfilling your inner image of yourself. This includes;
- Dignity
- Confidence
- Self-belief
- Self-worth
- Positive-body image, etc.
Prestige needs are due to your longing for appreciation and respect from others. In other words, getting approval from others satisfies these needs. Examples are;
- Respect
- Status
- Recognition
- Awards & honours
- Talent exhibition, etc.
As the hierarchy progresses, esteem needs and belongingness are often referred to as “Psychological needs“.
5. Self-Actualisation Needs
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory(1943), self-actualisation is the highest level of psychological well-being that you can attain. Chiefly, these needs lead you in your growth as a person. Therefore, this set of needs is also called growth needs or being needs. It is only after the survival and safety of the individual have been achieved that socialisation and dignity begin to emerge. Similarly, it is only after these needs are satisfied that self-actualisation can be achieved. They include;
- Creativity
- Approval of facts
- Morality
- Lack of Bias
- Responsibility
- Mindfulness
- Selflessness
- Kindness
- Problem Solving, etc.
Self-actualisation as Maslow described is “being the best one can be.” Interestingly, Self-actualised people can lead a happy life while you appreciate your limitations. Moreover, self-actualisers are more considerate. For instance, honesty, loyalty, compassion, responsibility, confidence and courage are some of the noteworthy traits of self-actualisers
As part of hierarchy, self-actualization needs are often referred to as self-fulfillment needs.
Modified Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory
Maslow, in 1970, added three more levels to the hierarchy of needs. Namely, cognitive needs, aesthetic needs and self-transcendence needs.
Cognitive needs are about learning and knowing things about the world and where we fit within it. Hence, cognitive needs revolves around one’s ability to acquire new information and knowledge.
Aesthetic needs are related to their desire to enjoy beauty, form, and appreciation. There is a wide variety of ways in which an individual can fulfill his or her aesthetic needs. This includes creative activities such as, reading, listening to music, watching movies, engaging in art, and participating in other creative arts.
Transcendence need is a need in which human beings aspire to find meaning in their lives beyond the material world. In order to meet this need, we can help others, practice spirituality, and connect with nature in a variety of ways.
The new hierarchy is as follows;
- Physiological needs
- Safety needs
- Love and belonging needs
- Esteem needs
- Cognitive needs
- Aesthetic needs
- Self-actualisation needs &
- Self-transcendence
Here, the first four levels are deficit needs, while the rest are growth needs.
Application of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory
Maslow’s theory has a lot of real-world applications, be it in terms of work, education, or other aspects of life. For example, the hierarchy of needs can help employers determine what motivates their employees and take care of their needs in order to improve their effectiveness and productivity. On the other hand, in an educational setting, teachers could target specific items on the hierarchy to improve their students’ motivation and promote effective learning. Markedly, understanding Maslow’s theory can prove handy in terms of improving one’s everyday life.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be viewed as a theory of human motivation, suggesting that certain needs of an individual must be met for a person to realise their full potential, and experience purpose and motivation. Indeed, this is a starting point in any organisation, where employers can use Maslow’s model and create an atmosphere in which the employees feel motivated. If each of the needs is met, individuals will be more focused on their tasks and less worried about anything else. This way, they will be more driven by intrinsic, rather than only extrinsic motivation. Similarly, these principles apply in the educational setting as well. In short, implementing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in schools and higher education institutions gives an insight about how satisfying students’ basic and psychological needs can help in development of intrinsic motivation in them.
Criticisms of Maslow’s Hierarchy Theory
Although Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a useful tool to apply in various settings, this model comes with certain limitations. According to Maslow, if people grow up in an environment in which their needs are not met, they will be unlikely to function as healthy, well-adjusted individuals. Furthermore, The author proposed that this model is universal and applies to all individuals, be it in educational, workplace, or other settings. But, it does not account for individual and cultural variations in how people prioritise their needs. Thus, some research suggests that there may be differences in the ordering of needs in different cultures.
Some research supports Maslow’s theories, but many disagree with the idea of a hierarchy of needs. In other words, there is little evidence that Maslow’s graphical ranking of needs is accurate, and even less evidence that they are hierarchical.
The biggest criticism of this theory is perhaps the concept of self-actualisation, which is difficult to test empirically. Self-actualization itself is an abstract humanistic concept, which rests on the assumption that the person wants to live. Therefore, when an individual’s death-wishes are strong, the whole psychological system falls to the ground. On the other hand, the theory is not based on any credible scientific research and utilized an unscientific approach, including unreliable samples and methods, such as personal observations and biographical analysis. Despite the existence of some empirical evidence supporting Maslow’s theory needs, especially in the organisational and educational settings, there is no strong evidence for this theory.
Takeaway
In summary, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that different grades of needs drive our actions. Orderly attainment of needs for survival, safety, love and esteem leads you to the ideal psychological state of self-actualisation. Finally, having a sense of self-actualisation allows you to lead a contented lifestyle. Maslow’s theory of motivation explains how human’s motivation is based on their needs and hence, sheds light on what factors prevent us from reaching our full potential based on our needs.