Critical Review of Maslow’s needs of Hierarchy Theory with human Behavior

Psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced the concept of a Hierarchy of Needs. His hierarchy proposes that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to meet higher level growth needs. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is most often displayed as a hierarchical pyramid with five levels. However, the most recent depictions of the hierarchical pyramid have seven or eight levels. But, no matter which pyramid you review, the lowest levels of the pyramid are made up of the most basic needs, while the more complex needs are located at the top of the pyramid. The four lower levels of all the pyramids are considered physiological or deficiency needs, while the top level(s) are considered growth needs.  Maslow’s believes that the lower level needs have to be satisfied before higher needs can influence behavior.

Maslow’s Theory of Motivation

The basis of Maslow’s theory of motivation is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that certain lower needs need to be satisfied before higher needs can be addressed. Needs at the bottom of the pyramid are basic physical requirements including the need for food, air, water, and sleep. Once these lower-level needs have been met, people can move on to the next level of needs, which are for safety and security. Once these needs have been reasonably satisfied, he or she may be able to reach the next level, and eventually after all the lower needs are met, they can reach the highest level called self-actualization. Maslow’s believed that all people are motivated to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization.  Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by the in ability to meet lower level needs. He believed a person cannot become self-actualized if he or she is starving for food or if they are still seeking love and affection from others.

Physiological Needs

Physiological needs deal with the maintenance of the human body. This lowest category includes the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food, and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most instinctive needs because all needs become secondary until these needs are met. If we need water, then little else matters until we have something to drink.

Safety and Security Needs

Safety and security needs are about keeping us safe from harm. These needs include shelter, job security, health, and safe environments. If a person does not feel safe in an environment, they will seek to find safety before they attempt to meet any higher level needs. These security needs are important for survival, but they are not as important as the basic physiological needs. 

Social Needs/ Love and Belongings

Social needs advance our tribal nature. These are the needs for belonging, love, affection as well as for relationships with family and friends and companionship. These needs are met through pleasing and fulfilling relationships with others. A pleasing and fulfilling relationship would imply acceptance by others. Having satisfied their basic physiological and security needs, people can seek relationships from which their need for love and belonging can be met.

Self-Esteem

Humans chase individualized goals in life but the need for fulfillment is rooted in us all. Without the confidence, self-love, and meaning, it is difficult to reach our desires. This sector of the pyramid relies on the steps below it and is crucial to the top of the pyramid.

 Self-Actualization

Final step as the top of Mount Everest. Everyone climbs through the steps of life and ultimately looks to maximize on their potential. Without the four steps below, self-actualization is unreachable and potential can’t be reached.

Conclusion

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs explains that people have certain needs that have to be met, and their needs are ranked.  Lower needs include survival needs like air, food, and water, and higher needs include self-esteem.  The highest need is self-actualization, which means that a person feels he has met his potential.  The needs in order are: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

References

Ø  Wageman, R. (1997) ‘Critical success factors for creating superb self-managing teams.’

Organizational Dynamics, 26 (1): 49-62.

Ø  A.H. Maslow, "Critique of self-actualization theory", in: E. Hoffman (Ed.), Future visions: The unpublished papers of Abraham Maslow (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1996), pp. 26–32

Ø  Wahba, M. A.; Bridwell, L. G. (1976). "Maslow reconsidered: A review of research on the need hierarchy theory". Organizational Behavior and Human Performance. 15 (2): 212–240

Ø  Tay, L.; Diener, E. (2011). "Needs and subjective well-being around the world". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 101 (2): 354–365.

Ø  Goebel, B. L.; Brown, D. R. (1981). "Age differences in motivation related to Maslow's need hierarchy". Developmental Psychology. 17: 809–815.

Ø  A Theory of Human Motivation, original 1943 article by Maslow