Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Overview

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a theory of motivation.
• Human actions are motivated by a hierarchy of psychological needs.
• Central question: What motivates human behavior?
• Needs are organized into a hierarchy, from basic to abstract.
• When a lower need is met, the next need becomes the focus.

Categories of Human Needs

1. Physiological Needs

   • Basic physical needs: food, water, sleep.
   • Essential for maintaining homeostasis (e.g., body temperature).
   • Most essential; prioritized if unmet.

2. Safety Needs

   • Safe and predictable environments.
   • Apparent in childhood and in emergencies for adults.
   • Preference for familiarity, insurance, and savings.

3. Love and Belonging Needs

   • Feeling loved and accepted.
   • Includes romantic relationships, friendships, family ties.
   • Impact on well-being; social connections improve health.

4. Esteem Needs

   • Desire to feel good about oneself.
   • Two components: self-confidence and being valued by others.
   • Unmet needs lead to feelings of inferiority.

5. Self-Actualization Needs

   • Feeling fulfilled and living up to one's potential.
   • Unique to each individual (e.g., helping others, artistic achievements).
   • Rarely achieved; famous figures include Lincoln, Einstein, Mother Teresa.

Progression Through the Hierarchy

• Prerequisites like freedom of speech facilitate progression.
• Learning and understanding the world is also a need.
• Needs are not all-or-nothing; partially met needs still allow progression.
• Some behaviors meet multiple needs (e.g., sharing a meal).

Criticisms of Maslow's Theory

• Popular but criticized for lack of hierarchy and testability.
• Research often does not support the hierarchical order.
• Self-actualization is hard to define scientifically and based on limited samples.

Conclusion

• Maslow's Hierarchy is a foundational concept in psychology and has influenced education and business.
• Despite criticisms, it remains a widely referenced theory for understanding human motivation.