Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Overview

• One of five approaches to understanding motivation.
• Developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow.
• Conceptualized as a pyramid where needs must be fulfilled in a specific order from bottom to top.

Hierarchical Levels

1. Physiological Needs

• Basic survival needs:
  • Food
  • Water
  • Breathing
  • Sleep
• Most fundamental and must be satisfied first.

2. Safety Needs

• Security in:
  • Resources
  • Employment
  • Health
  • Property
• Considered basic needs that follow physiological needs.

3. Social Needs

• Love and belonging:
  • Friendship
  • Family
• Considered as the need for social connections.

4. Esteem Needs

• Self-esteem and respect:
  • Confidence
  • Achievement
• Involves gaining respect from others and oneself.

5. Self-Actualization

• Achieving full potential:
  • Morality
  • Acceptance
  • Creativity
• The pinnacle of the hierarchy, representing the realization of personal potential.

Analogy

• Compared to climbing Mount Everest:
  • Start at the bottom and progress through checkpoints.
  • Each level is like a checkpoint managed by a Sherpa.
  • Must fulfill lower-level needs before progressing to higher levels.
  • Achieving self-actualization is akin to reaching the summit.

Key Points

• Needs must be fulfilled in order from the bottom of the pyramid to the top.
• Each level serves as a foundation for the next.
• Only when lower needs are satisfied can one focus on higher-level needs.