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{{Short description|Theory of developmental psychology}}
'''Maslow's hierarchy of needs''' is a theory in ] that ] proposed in his ] paper ''A Theory of Human Motivation'', which he subsequently extended. His theory contends that as ]s meet their basic needs, they seek to satisfy successively higher ]s that occupy a set ]. Maslow studied exemplary people such as ], ], ], and ] rather than ] or ] people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy" (''Motivation and Personality'', 1987).
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
]
'''Maslow’s hierarchy of needs''' is a conceptualisation of the needs (or goals) that motivate ], which was proposed by the American psychologist ].{{sfn|Maslow|1943}}{{sfn|Maslow|1954}} According to Maslow’s original formulation, there are five sets of basic needs that are related to each other in a hierarchy of prepotency (or strength). Typically, the hierarchy is depicted in the form of a pyramid although Maslow was not himself responsible for the iconic diagram.{{sfn|Kaufman|2019}} The pyramid begins at the bottom with physiological needs (the most prepotent of all) and culminates at the top with ]. In his later writings, Maslow added a sixth level of ‘meta-needs’ and ].{{sfn|Maslow|1971}}{{sfn|Goble|1971}}


The hierarchy of needs developed by Maslow is one of his most enduring contributions to ].{{sfn|Koltko-Rivera|2006}} The hierarchy of needs remains a popular framework and tool in ],{{sfn|Steere|1988}}{{sfn|Freitas|Leonard|2011}} business and management training,{{sfn|Kremer|Hammond|2013}} ] research, ],{{sfn|Dames|2021}}{{sfn|Wills|McEwen|2014}} ]{{sfn|Colledge|2002}} and ].<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last1=Poston |first1=Bob |date=August 2009 |title=An Exercise in Personal Exploration: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs |url=https://www.ast.org/pdf/308.pdf |journal=The Surgical Technologist |publisher=Association of Surgical Technologists |volume=308 |page=348}}</ref> However, although widely used and researched, the hierarchy of needs has been criticized for its lack of conclusive supporting evidence and its validity remains contested.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lester |first=David |date=August 2013 |title=Measuring Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/02.20.pr0.113x16z1 |journal=Psychological Reports |volume=113 |issue=1 |pages=15–17 |doi=10.2466/02.20.pr0.113x16z1 |pmid=24340796 |s2cid=35870176 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last1=Fallatah |first1=Rodwan Hashim Mohammed |title=A Critical Review of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs |date=November 30, 2017 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67741-5_2 |work=Employee Motivation in Saudi Arabia |pages=19–59 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-319-67740-8 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |last2=Syed |first2=Jawad|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-67741-5_2 }}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />
]Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as ''deficiency needs'', while the top level is termed ''being needs''. While our deficiency needs must be met, our being needs are continually shaping our behaviour. The basic concept is that the higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus once all the needs that are lower down in the pyramid are mainly or entirely satisfied. Growth forces create upward movement in the hierarchy, whereas regressive forces push prepotent needs further down the hierarchy.


=== Deficiency needs === == Historical development ==
'''Maslow's hierarchy of needs''' is an idea in ] proposed by American psychologist ] in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" in the journal '']''.{{sfn|Maslow|1943}} The theory is a classification system intended to reflect the universal needs of society as its base, then proceeding to more acquired emotions.{{sfn|Deckers|2018}} The hierarchy is split between deficiency needs and growth needs, with two key themes involved within the theory being ] and the prioritization of needs.
The deficiency needs (also termed ''D-needs'' by Maslow) are:


According to Maslow’s original formulation, there are five sets of basic needs: physiological, safety, love, esteem and self-actualization. These needs are related to each other in a hierarchy of prepotency (or strength) beginning with the physiological needs that are the most prepotent of all. If the physiological needs are relatively well gratified, a new set of safety needs emerges. If both the physiological and safety needs are fairly well gratified, the prepotent (‘higher’) need of love (both its giving and receiving) then emerges. The next need is esteem, and finally ]. Maslow also coined the term "]" to describe the motivation of people who go beyond the scope of basic needs and strive for constant betterment.{{sfn|Goble|1971}}
==== Physiological needs ====
The first need for the body is to achieve ]. This is obtained through the consumption of ], ] and ], achieving adequate ], a comfortable ], and so on. When some needs are unmet, a human's physiological needs take the highest priority. For instance, if one simultaneously experiences the desire for ] and the hunger for food, a human is more likely to seek to satisfy the latter need first. As a result of the prepotency of physiological needs, an individual will deprioritize all other desires and capacities. Physiological needs can control thoughts and behaviors, and can cause people to feel sickness, pain, and discomfort.


The hierarchy suggests a rigid separation of needs, but Maslow stressed that a need does not require being satisfied 100% before the next need emerges. Instead, “a more realistic description of the hierarchy would be in terms of decreasing percentages of satisfaction as we go up the hierarchy of prepotency”.{{sfn|Maslow|1943|p=388}}
==== Safety needs ====
When the physiological needs are met, the need for ] will emerge. Safety or security ranks above all other desires; a properly-functioning society tends to provide security to its members. Recent examples of failure in this area include the cases of societal breakdown in ], ] and ]. Sometimes the desire for safety outweighs the requirement to satisfy physiological needs; for example, during the ] many residents of ] chose to occupy a secure area rather than an insecure area, even though the latter provided better access to food.


==== Love/Belonging needs ==== === Pyramid ===
Maslow's hierarchy of ]s is often portrayed in the shape of a pyramid, with the largest, most fundamental needs at the bottom, and the need for ] and transcendence at the top. However, Maslow himself never created a pyramid to represent the hierarchy of needs.{{sfn|Eaton|2012}}{{sfn|Kaufman|2019}}{{sfn|Bridgman|Cummings|Ballard|2019}}
Once a person's physiological and safety needs are largely met, the third layer of human needs starts to become apparent. This involves emotionally-based relationships in general, which includes the perceived need for companionship (both ] and non-sexual) and/or having a family. There is the sense of community or affiliation; in other words, humans want to belong to groups, whether it be clubs, work groups, religious groups, family, gangs, etc. They need to feel loved (sexually and non-sexually) by others, and to be accepted by them. People also have a constant desire to feel needed. In the absence of these elements, people become increasingly susceptible to loneliness and social anxieties.


]
==== Esteem needs ====
The most fundamental four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "d-needs": esteem, friendship and love, security, and physical needs. If these "deficiency needs" are not met – except for the most fundamental (physiological) need – there may not be a physical indication, but the individual will feel anxious and tense. Deprivation is what causes deficiency, so when one has unmet needs, this motivates them to fulfill what they are being denied.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}}
There are two versions of esteem needs - the need for the ] of and recognition by others, and the need for ].


The human brain is a complex system and has parallel processes running at the same time, thus many different motivations from various levels of Maslow's hierarchy can occur at the same time. Maslow spoke clearly about these levels and their satisfaction in terms such as "relative", "general", and "primarily". Instead of stating that the individual focuses on a certain need at any given time, Maslow stated that a certain need "dominates" the human organism.{{sfn|Maslow|1954}} Thus Maslow acknowledged the likelihood that the different levels of motivation could occur at any time in the human mind, but he focused on identifying the basic types of motivation and the order in which they would tend to be met.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2020 |title=Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in Education |url=https://educationlibrary.org/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-in-education/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206215339/https://educationlibrary.org/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-in-education/ |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |website=Education Library |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to his anthropological studies, Maslow drew on animal data that "studied and observed monkeys noticing their unusual pattern of behavior that addressed priorities based on individual needs".<ref name=":1" />
=== Being needs ===
Though the deficiency needs may be seen as "basic", and can be met and neutralized (i.e. they stop being motivators in one's life), self-actualization and transcendence are "being" or "growth needs" (also termed "B-needs"), i.e. they are enduring motivations or drivers of behaviour.


=== Alternative illustrations of hierarchy ===
==== Self-actualization ====
]
Self-actualization (a term originated by ]) is the ''instinctual'' need of a human to make the most of their unique abilities. Self-actualization means to have self-fulfillments of one’s potential. Maslow described it as follows:
In contrast to the well-known pyramid, a number of alternative schematic illustrations of the hierachy of needs have been developed. One of the earliest, in 1962, shows a more dynamic hierarchy in terms of 'waves' of different needs overlapping at the same time.{{sfn|Krech|Crutchfield|Ballachey|1962|p=77}} As illustrated, the peak of an earlier main set of needs must be passed before the next 'higher' need can begin to assume a dominant role.


Other schematic illustrations of the hierarchy use overlapping triangles to depict the interaction of the different needs. One such updated hierarchy proposes that self-actualization is removed from its privileged place atop the
: ''A musician must make music, the artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualisation.'' (''Motivation and Personality'', 1954.)
pyramid because it is largely subsumed within status (esteem) and mating-related motives in the new framework.{{sfn|Kenrick|Griskevicius|Neuberg|Schaller|2010}}


== Needs ==
Maslow writes of self-actualizing people that:
=== Physiological needs ===
Physiological needs are the base of the hierarchy. These needs are the biological component for human survival. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are factored into internal motivation. According to Maslow's theory, humans are compelled to satisfy physiological needs first to pursue higher levels of intrinsic satisfaction.{{sfn|Maslow|1943}} To advance higher-level needs in Maslow's hierarchy, physiological needs must be met first. This means that if a person is struggling to meet their physiological needs, they are unwilling to seek safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization on their own.


Physiological needs include: ], ], ], ], ], ], ]{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} and ]. Many of these physiological needs must be met for the human body to remain in ]. Air, for example, is a physiological need; a human being requires air more urgently than higher-level needs, such as a sense of social belonging. Physiological needs are critical to "meet the very basic essentials of life".<ref name=":1" /> This allows for cravings such as hunger and thirst to be satisfied and not disrupt the regulation of the body.
* They embrace the facts and realities of the world (including themselves) rather than denying or avoiding them.
* They are spontaneous in their ideas and actions.
* They are creative.
* They are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others. Solving these problems is often a key focus in their lives.
* They feel a closeness to other people, and generally appreciate life.
* They have a system of ] that is fully internalized and independent of external authority.
* They judge others without ], in a way that can be termed ''objective''.


=== Safety needs ===
If this need is not met, a person will feel tense and restless and unfilled.
Once a person's physiological needs are satisfied, their safety needs take precedence and dominate behavior. In the absence of physical safety – due to war, natural disaster, ], ], etc. and/or in the absence of economic safety – (due to an economic crisis and lack of work opportunities) these safety needs manifest themselves in ways such as a preference for ], grievance procedures for protecting the individual from unilateral authority, savings accounts, insurance policies, disability accommodations, etc. This level is more likely to predominate in children as they generally have a greater need to feel safe – especially children who have disabilities.<ref name="MJC">{{Cite book |last1=Dodge |first1=Diane Trister |url=http://fanconij.faculty.mjc.edu/Theoriest.pdf |title=The Creative Curriculum for Preschool |last2=Colker |first2=Laura J. |last3=Heroman |first3=Cate |date=2002 |publisher=Teaching Strategies |isbn=978-1879537439 |edition=4th |location=Washington, DC |pages=2–3 |chapter=Theory and Research Behind ''The Creative Curriculum'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110075759/http://fanconij.faculty.mjc.edu/Theoriest.pdf |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |via=Jeanette Fanconi, Modesto Junior College}}</ref> Adults are also impacted by this, typically in economic matters; "adults are not immune to the need of safety".<ref name=":1" /> It includes shelter, job security, health, and safe environments. If a person does not feel safe in an environment, they will seek safety before attempting to meet any higher level of survival. This is why the "goal of consistently meeting the need for safety is to have stability in one's life",<ref name=":1" /> stability brings back the concept of homeostasis for humans which our bodies need.


Safety needs include:
==== Self-transcendence ====
* ]
Self-transcendence refers to connecting to something beyond the ego or to help others find self-fulfillment and realize their potential.
* ]
* ]
* ]


=== Love and social needs ===
Although Maslow tentatively placed ] at the top of his hierarchy, this element has been discounted by most modern psychologists because they feel it really belongs in the domain of religious belief.
After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is interpersonal and involves feelings of ]. According to Maslow, humans possess an effective need for a sense of belonging and acceptance among social groups, regardless of whether ]; being a part of a group is crucial, regardless if it is work, sports, friends or family.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} The sense of belongingness is "being comfortable with and connection to others that results from receiving acceptance, respect, and love."<ref name="MJC" /> For example, some large social groups may include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, gangs or online communities. Some examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and confidants. Humans need to love and be loved – both sexually and non-sexually – by others according to Maslow.{{sfn|Maslow|1943}} Many people become susceptible to ], ], and ] in the absence of this love or belonging element. This need is especially strong in ] and it can override the need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies due to ], ], ], ], etc. can adversely affect the individual's ability to form and maintain emotionally significant ] in general.
Mental health can be a huge factor when it comes to an individual's needs and development. When an individual's needs are not met, it can cause depression during adolescence. When an individual grows up in a higher-income family, it is much more likely that they will have a lower rate of depression. This is because all of their basic needs are met. Studies have shown that when a family goes through financial stress for a prolonged time, depression rates are higher, not only because their basic needs are not being met, but because this stress strains the parent-child relationship. The parent(s) is stressed about providing for their children, and they are also likely to spend less time at home because they are working more to make more money and provide for their family.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Crandall |first1=Aliceann |last2=Powell |first2=Elizabeth A. |last3=Bradford |first3=Grace C. |last4=Magnusson |first4=Brianna M. |last5=Hanson |first5=Carl L. |last6=Barnes |first6=Michael D. |last7=Novilla |first7=M. Lelinneth B. |last8=Bean |first8=Roy A. |year=2020 |title=Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a Framework for Understanding Adolescent Depressive Symptoms over Time |journal=Journal of Child and Family Studies |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=273–281 |doi=10.1007/s10826-019-01577-4 |s2cid=204353035}}</ref>


Social belonging needs include:
== Counterpositions ==
* ]
While Maslow's theory may be regarded as an improvement over previous theories of ] and ], it has its detractors. For example, in their extensive review of research that is dependent on Maslow's theory, Wabha and Bridwell (1976) found little evidence for the ranking of needs that Maslow described, or even for the existence of a definite hierarchy at all.
* ]
* ]
*]
*]
*Receiving and giving love and affection


In certain situations, the need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs, depending on the strength of the peer pressure. In contrast, for some individuals, the need for self-esteem is more important than the need for belonging; and for others, the need for creative fulfillment may supersede even the most basic needs.{{sfn|Kenrick|Griskevicius|Neuberg|Schaller|2010}}
The concept of self-actualization is considered vague and ] by some behaviourist psychologists. The concept is based on an ] notion of human nature that assumes we have an optimum role or purpose. Self actualization is a difficult construct for researchers to ], and this in turn makes it difficult to test Maslow's theory. Even if self-actualization is a useful concept, there is no proof that every individual has this capacity or even the desire to achieve it.


=== Esteem needs ===
Other counterpositions suggest that not everyone ultimately seeks the self-actualization that a strict (and possibly naive) reading of Maslow's hierarchy of needs appears to imply:
Esteem is the respect, and admiration of a person, but also "self-respect and respect from others".<ref name="MJC" /> Most people need stable esteem, meaning that which is soundly based on real capacity or achievement. Maslow noted two versions of esteem needs. The "lower" version of esteem is the need for respect from others and may include a need for status, recognition, fame, prestige, and attention. The "higher" version of esteem is the need for self-respect, and can include a need for strength, competence,{{sfn|Deckers|2018}} mastery, ], independence, and freedom. This "higher" version takes guidelines, the "hierarchies are interrelated rather than sharply separated".{{sfn|Maslow|1954}} This means that esteem and the subsequent levels are not strictly separated; instead, the levels are closely related.
* ]'s book '']'' describes his ] method (]) of finding purpose in life.
* ] was actually drawn toward the sense of mystery in life. See ]' ''Subtle is the Lord''.
* Others seek to perform good works.
* Others are drawn toward the dark side of the ].


Esteem comes from day-to-day experiences which provide a learning opportunity that allows us to discover ourselves. This is incredibly important for children, which is why giving them "the opportunity to discover they are competent and capable learners"<ref name="MJC" /> is crucial. To boost this, adults must provide opportunities for children to have successful and positive experiences to give children a greater "sense of self".<ref name="MJC" /> Adults, especially parents and educators must create and ensure an environment for children that is supportive and provides them with opportunities that "helps children see themselves as respectable, capable individuals". It can also be found that "Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children&nbsp;... and precedes real self-esteem or dignity",{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} which reflects the two aspects of esteem: for oneself and others.
Maslow might respond that these are just examples of ways people self-actualize. This illustrates the difficulty in using and operationalizing the term.

=== Cognitive needs ===
{{main|Need for cognition}}

It has been suggested that Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be extended after esteem needs into two more categories: cognitive needs and aesthetic needs. Cognitive needs crave meaning, information, comprehension and curiosity – this creates a will to learn and attain knowledge.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} &nbsp;From an educational viewpoint, Maslow wanted humans to have intrinsic motivation to become educated people. People have cognitive needs such as creativity, foresight, curiosity, and meaning. Individuals who enjoy activities that require deliberation and brainstorming have a greater need for cognition. Individuals who are unmotivated to participate in the activity, on the other hand, have a low demand for cognitive abilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Need for Cognition |url=http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628085814/http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/ |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=Research and custom writing services}}</ref>

=== Aesthetic needs ===
After reaching one's cognitive needs, it would progress to aesthetic needs to beautify one's life. This would consist of having the ability to appreciate the beauty within the world around one's self, on a day-to-day basis.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} According to Maslow's theories, to progress toward Self-Actualization, humans require beautiful imagery or novel and aesthetically pleasing experiences. Humans must immerse themselves in nature's splendor while paying close attention to their surroundings and observing them in order to extract the world's beauty. One would accomplish this by making their environment pleasant to look at or be around. They might discover personal style choices that they feel represent them and make their environment a place that they fit well into. This higher level of need to connect with nature results in a sense of intimacy with nature and all that is endearing.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} Aesthetic needs also relate to beautifying oneself. This would consist of improving one's physical appearance to ensure its beauty to balance the rest of the body.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} This is done by making and finding ways one wants to dress and express oneself through personal beauty and grooming standards and ideas.

=== Self-actualization ===
{{Main|Self-actualization}}
"What a man can be, he must be.{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=91}} This quotation forms the basis of the perceived need for self-actualization. This level of need refers to the realization of one's full potential. Maslow describes this as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=92}} People may have a strong, particular desire to become an ideal parent, succeed athletically, or create paintings, pictures, or inventions.{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=93}} To understand this level of need, a person must not only succeed in the previous needs but master them. Self-actualization can be described as a value-based system when discussing its role in motivation. Self-actualization is understood as the goal or explicit motive, and the previous stages in Maslow's hierarchy fall in line to become the step-by-step process by which self-actualization is achievable; an explicit motive is the objective of a reward-based system that is used to intrinsically drive the completion of certain values or goals.{{sfn|Deckers|2018}} Individuals who are motivated to pursue this goal seek and understand how their needs, relationships, and sense of self are expressed through their behavior. Self-actualization needs include:{{sfn|Deckers|2018}}
* Partner acquisition
* Parenting
* Utilizing and developing talents and abilities
* Pursuing goals

=== Transcendence needs ===
{{Main|Transcendence (philosophy)|Transcendence (religion)|Self-transcendence}}

Maslow later subdivided the triangle's top to include self-transcendence, also known as spiritual needs. Spiritual needs differ from other types of needs in that they can be met on multiple levels. When this need is met, it produces feelings of integrity and raises things to a higher plane of existence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2007 |first =Sandeep| last = Gautum |format = Blog |title=Maslow's eight basic needs and the eight stage developmental model |url=https://the-mouse-trap.com/2007/12/14/maslows-eight-basic-needs-and-the-eight-stage-devlopmental-model/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801051503/https://the-mouse-trap.com/2007/12/14/maslows-eight-basic-needs-and-the-eight-stage-devlopmental-model/ |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=The Mouse Trap}}</ref> In his later years, Maslow explored a further dimension of motivation, while criticizing his original vision of self-actualization.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H. |title=Future visions: The unpublished papers of Abraham Maslow |publisher=Sage |year=1996 |isbn=978-0761900511 |editor-last=Hoffman |editor-first=Edward |location=Thousand Oaks, CA |pages=26–32 |chapter=Critique of self-actualization theory}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H. |year=1969 |title=The farther reaches of human nature |journal=Journal of Transpersonal Psychology |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–9}}</ref>{{sfn|Maslow|1971}}{{sfn|Koltko-Rivera|2006}} Maslow tells us that by transcending you have a set of roots in your current culture but you are able to look over it as well and see other viewpoints and ideas.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maslow |first=Abraham |date=1969 |title=Various Meanings of Transcendence |url=https://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-01-69-01-056.pdf |journal=Journal of Transpersonal Psychology |pages=56–66}}</ref> By these later ideas, one finds the fullest realization in giving oneself to something beyond oneself—for example, in altruism or spirituality. He equated this with the desire to reach the infinite.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Garcia-Romeu |first=Albert |year=2010 |title=Self-transcendence as a measurable transpersonal construct |url=http://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-42-10-01-026.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Transpersonal Psychology |volume=421 |pages=26–47 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214135428/http://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-42-10-01-026.pdf |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> "Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the ]."{{sfn|Maslow|1971|p=269}}

== Criticism ==
=== Blackfoot influence ===
Maslow's early (1938) anthropological research included a fieldtrip to the Blackfoot people (]) in southern Alberta, Canada. Based on his observations of their peaceful and cooperative way of life (in contrast to American society), Maslow concluded that human destructiveness and aggression is largely culturally determined and “most probably a secondary, reactive consequence of thwarting of or threat to the basic human needs”.{{sfn|Maslow|1954}} However, claims have been made that Maslow had failed to acknowledge the influence of the Blackfoot philosophy in developing the hierarchy of needs.<ref> Coon, D. (2006) Abraham H. Maslow: Reconnaissance for Eupsychia. In D.A. Dewsbury, L.T. Benjamin Jr. and M. Wertheimer (Eds). Portraits of Pioneers in Psychology, Vol. 6 (pp. 255–273). Washington, D.C. & Mahwah, N.J.: American Psychological Association and Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.</ref><ref>Brown, S (2014) ''Transformation beyond greed: Native self-actualization''. Sidney Stone Brown.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Original Influences {{!}}| website = Psychology Today |last = Taylor |first = Steve |format = Blog | date = March 22, 2019 |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-darkness/201903/original-influences |url-status=live |archive-url=http://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20230313095915/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out%2Dof%2Dthe%2Ddarkness/201903/original%2Dinfluences |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |access-date=August 21, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

According to ], while acknowledging that Maslow learned much from the Blackfoot people, “there is nothing in these writings to suggest he borrowed or stole ideas for his hierarchy of needs”.{{sfn|Kaufman|2019}} Without wishing to discredit Maslow, Blackfoot elders and scholars have argued that Maslow did not really understand the Blackfoot philosophy. "It is not that Maslow got the hierarchy wrong or upside down, it is rather that he did not understand the circular nature in which all beings in Siksika society are interconnected and integrated. They surround each other and needs are met through these connections".<ref>Bear Chief - Oom Kapisi, E.R. Choate, P. and Lindstrom, G. (2022) . Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 34(2), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol34iss2id959.</ref>

=== Self-actualizing people ===
Maslow studied people such as ], ], ], and ], rather than ] or ] people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mittelman |first1=Willard |title=Maslow's Study of Self-Actualization: A Reinterpretation |journal=Journal of Humanistic Psychology |date=1991 |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=114–135 |doi=10.1177/0022167891311010|s2cid=144849415 }}</ref>{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=200}}

=== Ranking ===
==== Global ranking ====
In a 1976 review of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, little evidence was found for the specific ranking of needs that Maslow described or for the existence of a definite hierarchy at all.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal | last1 = Wahba | first1 = M. A. | last2 = Bridwell | first2 = L. G. | year = 1976 | title = Maslow reconsidered: A review of research on the need hierarchy theory | journal = Organizational Behavior and Human Performance | volume = 15 | issue = 2| pages = 212–240 | doi = 10.1016/0030-5073(76)90038-6 }}</ref> This refutation was claimed to be supported by the majority of longitudinal data and cross-sectional studies at the time, with the limited support for Maslow's hierarchy criticized due to poor measurement criteria and selection of ].<ref name=":2" />

In 1984, the order in which the hierarchy is arranged was criticized as being ethnocentric by ].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Hofstede | first1 = G. | year = 1984 | title = The cultural relativity of the quality of life concept | url = http://myweb.usf.edu/~jdorio/Articles/The%20cultural%20relativity%20of%20the%20quality%20of%20life%20concept.pdf | journal = Academy of Management Review | volume = 9 | issue = 3 | pages = 389–398 | doi = 10.5465/amr.1984.4279653 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141112000247/http://myweb.usf.edu/~jdorio/Articles/The%20cultural%20relativity%20of%20the%20quality%20of%20life%20concept.pdf | archive-date = November 12, 2014 }}</ref> In turn, Hofstede's work was criticized by others.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Hofstede – Culturally questionable?|url=https://ro.uow.edu.au/commpapers/370/|date=June 28, 2007|journal=Faculty of Commerce – Papers (Archive)|last1=Jones|first1=M.|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803191326/https://ro.uow.edu.au/commpapers/370/|url-status=live}}</ref> Maslow's hierarchy of needs was argued as failing to illustrate and expand upon the difference between the social and intellectual needs of those raised in ] societies and those raised in ] societies. The needs and drives of those in individualistic societies tend to be more self-centered than those in collectivist societies, focusing on the improvement of the self, with self-actualization being the apex of self-improvement. In collectivist societies, the needs of acceptance and community will outweigh the needs for freedom and individuality.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Cianci | first1 = R. | last2 = Gambrel | first2 = P. A. | year = 2003 | title = Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Does it apply in a collectivist culture | journal = Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship | volume = 8 | issue = 2| pages = 143–161 }}</ref>

Criticisms towards the theory have also been expressed on the lack of consideration towards individualism and collectivism in the context of spirituality.<ref name=":5" />

==== Sex ranking ====
The position and value of sex within Maslow's hierarchy have been a source of criticism. Maslow's hierarchy places sex in the physiological needs category, alongside food and breathing. Some critics argue that this placement of sex neglects the emotional, familial, and evolutionary implications of sex within the community, although others point out that this critique could apply to all of the basic needs. However, Maslow himself acknowledged that the satisfaction of sexual desire was likely linked to other social motives as well. Furthermore, it is recognized that physiological needs such as sex and hunger can be related to higher-order motivations.{{sfn|Kenrick|Griskevicius|Neuberg|Schaller|2010}}

=== Cultural and individual variations ===
Although recent research appears to validate the existence of universal human needs, as well as shared ordering of the way in which people seek and satisfy needs, the exact hierarchy proposed by Maslow is called into question.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/08/maslow-20-a-new-and-improved-recipe-for-happiness/243486/#.TkvKIRv8USE.facebook|title=Maslow 2.0: A new and improved recipe for happiness|last=Villarica|first=H.|date=August 17, 2011|website=The Atlantic|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-date=November 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121055055/http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/08/maslow-20-a-new-and-improved-recipe-for-happiness/243486/#.TkvKIRv8USE.facebook|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite journal|last1=Tay|first1=L.|last2=Diener|first2=E.|year=2011|title=Needs and subjective well-being around the world|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=101|issue=2|pages=354–365|doi=10.1037/a0023779|pmid=21688922}}</ref> The most common criticism is the expectation that different individuals, with similar backgrounds and at similar junctures in their respective lives, when faced with the same situation, would end up taking the same decision. Instead of that, a common observation is that humans are driven by a unique set of motivations, and their behavior cannot be reliably predicted based on the Maslowian principles.

The classification of the higher-order (self-esteem and self-actualization) and lower-order (physiological, safety, and love) needs is not universal and may vary across cultures due to individual differences and availability of resources in the region or geopolitical entity/country.

In a 1997 study,<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Tang | first1 = T. L. | last2 = West | first2 = W. B. | year = 1997 | title = The importance of human needs during peacetime, retrospective peacetime, and the Persian Gulf War | journal = International Journal of Stress Management | publisher=American Psychological Association on behalf of the International Stress Management Association |volume = 4 | issue = 1| pages = 47–62 |doi=10.1007/BF02766072| s2cid = 68311297 }}</ref> ] (EFA) of a thirteen-item scale showed there were two particularly important levels of needs in the US during the peacetime of 1993 to 1994: survival (physiological and safety) and psychological (love, self-esteem, and self-actualization). In 1991, a retrospective peacetime measure was established and collected during the Persian Gulf War, and US citizens were asked to recall the importance of needs from the previous year. Once again, only two levels of needs were identified; therefore, people have the ability and competence to recall and estimate the importance of needs. For citizens in the Middle East (Egypt and Saudi Arabia), three levels of needs regarding importance and satisfaction surfaced during the 1990 retrospective peacetime. These three levels were completely different from those of US citizens.

Changes regarding the importance and satisfaction of needs from the retrospective peacetime to wartime due to stress varied significantly across cultures (the US vs. the Middle East). For the US citizens, there was only one level of needs, since all needs were considered equally important. With regards to satisfaction of needs during the war, in the US there were three levels: physiological needs, safety needs, and psychological needs (social, self-esteem, and self-actualization). During the war, the satisfaction of physiological needs and safety needs were separated into two independent needs, while during peacetime, they were combined as one. For the people of the Middle East, the satisfaction of needs changed from three levels to two during wartime.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tang|first1=T. L.|last2=Ibrahim|first2=A. H.|year=1998|title=Importance of human needs during retrospective peacetime and the Persian Gulf War: Mid-eastern employees|journal=International Journal of Stress Management | publisher=American Psychological Association on behalf of the International Stress Management Association | volume=5|issue=1|pages=25–37|doi=10.1023/A:1022902803386<!-- journal sold, no longer updated --> |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1022902803386|s2cid=141983215}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Tang | first1 = T. L. | last2 = Ibrahim | first2 = A. H. | last3 = West | first3 = W. B. | year = 2002 | title = Effects of war-related stress on the satisfaction of human needs: The United States and the Middle East | journal = International Journal of Management Theory and Practices | volume = 3 | issue = 1| pages = 35–53 }}</ref>

A study of the ordering of needs in Asia found differences between the ordering of lower and higher order needs. For instance, community (related to belongingness and considered a lower order need in Maslow's hierarchy) was found to be the highest order need across Asia, followed closely by self-acceptance and growth.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Monnot | first1 = M. J. | last2 = Beehr| first2 = T. A. | year = 2022| title = The Good Life Versus the "Goods Life": An Investigation of Goal Contents Theory and Employee Subjective Well-Being Across Asian Countries | journal = Journal of Happiness Studies | volume = 23| issue = 3 | pages = Dec 15, 1244 | doi = 10.1007/s10902-021-00447-5 | s2cid = 239678199 }}</ref>

A 1981 study looked at how Maslow's hierarchy might vary across age groups.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Goebel | first1 = B. L. | last2 = Brown | first2 = D. R. | year = 1981 | title = Age differences in motivation related to Maslow's need hierarchy | journal = Developmental Psychology | volume = 17 | issue = 6| pages = 809–815 | doi = 10.1037/0012-1649.17.6.809 }}</ref> A survey asked participants of varying ages to rate a set number of statements from most important to least important. The researchers found that children had higher physical need scores than the other groups, the love need emerged from childhood to young adulthood, the esteem need was highest among the adolescent group, young adults had the highest self-actualization level, and old age had the highest level of security, it was needed across all levels comparably. The authors argued that this suggested Maslow's hierarchy may be limited as a theory for developmental sequence since the sequence of the love need and the self-esteem need should be reversed according to age.

The hierarchy of needs has been criticized from an Islamic point of view.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Bouzenita |first1=Anke Iman |last2=Boulanouar |first2=Aisha Wood |date=2016 |title=Maslow's hierarchy of needs: An Islamic critique |journal=Intellectual Discourse |volume=24}}</ref>

== See also ==
<!-- Please keep entries in alphabetical order & add a short description ] -->
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ], further expands and explains Maslow's theory
* ] reflects on trivial concerns in the context of more pressing needs
* ], ]'s model
* ]
* ], a theory in psychotherapy that offers descriptions of the nature, needs, and innate attributes of humans
* ], ]'s model
* ]
* ], ]'s and ]'s model
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}


== References == == References ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Bridgman |first1=Todd |last2=Cummings |first2=Stephen |last3=Ballard |first3=John |date=March 2019 |title=Who Built Maslow's Pyramid? A History of the Creation of Management Studies' Most Famous Symbol and Its Implications for Management Education |url=https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2017.0351 |journal=Academy of Management Learning & Education |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=81–98 |doi=10.5465/amle.2017.0351 |s2cid=150163519}}
* Maslow, Abraham H, ''Motivation and Personality'', 2nd. ed., New York, Harper & Row, 1970 ISBN 0060419873
* {{Citation |last=Colledge |first=Ray |title=Maslow's theory of human motivation |date=2002 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-62957-8_10 |work=Mastering Counselling Theory |pages=129–138 |place=London |publisher=Macmillan Education UK |doi=10.1007/978-0-230-62957-8_10 |isbn=978-0-333-92243-9 |access-date=April 30, 2022}}
* {{cite book |last1=Dames |first1=Shannon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BQ1UEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA42 |title=Root Strength E-Book: A Health and Care Professionals Guide to Minimizing Stress and Maximizing Thriving |date=December 9, 2021 |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences |isbn=978-0-323-77870-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Deckers |first=Lambert |title=Motivation: Biological, Psychological, and Environmental |publisher=Routledge Press|year=2018 |isbn=9781138036338}}
* {{Cite web |last=Eaton |first=Sarah Elaine |date=August 4, 2012 |title=Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Is the Pyramid a Hoax? |url=https://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522180153/https://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/ |archive-date=May 22, 2020 |access-date=May 22, 2020 |website=Learning, Teaching, and Leadership}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Freitas |first1=Frances Anne |last2=Leonard |first2=Lora J. |date=January 2011 |title=Maslow's hierarchy of needs and student academic success |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2010.07.004 |journal=Teaching and Learning in Nursing |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=9–13 |doi=10.1016/j.teln.2010.07.004 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Goble |first=Frank G. |title=The third force: the psychology of Abraham Maslow |date=1971 |publisher=Maurice Bassett Publishing |isbn=0671421743 |location=Richmond, CA |page=62}}
* {{cite journal|first=Scott Barry|last= Kaufman|year=2019| url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/beautiful-minds/who-created-maslows-iconic-pyramid| title=Who Created Maslow’s Iconic Pyramid?|journal= Scientific American}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Kenrick|first1=D. T.|last2=Griskevicius|first2=V.|last3=Neuberg|first3=S. L.|last4=Schaller|first4=M.|year=2010|title=Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations|journal=Perspectives on Psychological Science |volume=5|issue=3|pages=292–314|doi=10.1177/1745691610369469|pmc=3161123|pmid=21874133}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Koltko-Rivera |first=Mark E. |year=2006 |title=Rediscovering the Later Version of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Transcendence and Opportunities for Theory, Research, and Unification |url=http://academic.udayton.edu/jackbauer/Readings%20595/Koltko-Rivera%2006%20trans%20self-act%20copy.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Review of General Psychology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=302–317 |doi=10.1037/1089-2680.10.4.302 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025142717/http://academic.udayton.edu/jackbauer/Readings%20595/Koltko-Rivera%2006%20trans%20self-act%20copy.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=December 24, 2014 |s2cid=16046903}}
* {{cite book |last1=Krech |first1=David |last2=Crutchfield |first2=Richard S. |last3=Ballachey |first3=Egerton L. |title=Individual in Society: A Textbook of Social Psychology |year= 1962 |publisher= McGraw»Hill Kogakusha, Ltd. |isbn= }}
* {{cite news |last1=Kremer |first1=William| department = World Service|last2=Hammond |first2= Claudia |date=August 31, 2013 |title=Abraham Maslow and the pyramid that beguiled business |newspaper=BBC News Magazine |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23902918 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716041428/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23902918 | quote = Abraham Maslow and the Hierarchy of Needs was broadcast on Mind Changers on Radio 4 and Health Check on the BBC World Service |archive-date=July 16, 2018}}
* {{cite journal |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H.|year=1943 |title=A theory of human motivation|journal=Psychological Review| volume=50| issue=4| pages=370–396|via=psychclassics.yorku.ca|url=http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm|doi=10.1037/h0054346|hdl=10983/23610|citeseerx=10.1.1.334.7586 |access-date=March 13, 2007|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914183817/http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H. |url=https://archive.org/details/motivationperson00masl_0 |title=Motivation and personality |publisher=Harper |year=1954 |isbn=978-0-06-041987-5 |location=New York, NY |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H. |url=https://archive.org/details/fartherreachesof0000masl |title=The farther reaches of human nature |publisher=The Viking Press |year=1971 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite journal |last1=McLeod |first1=Saul |title=Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs |url=https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html |website=SimplyPsychology |access-date=January 2, 2022 |date=December 29, 2021 |orig-date=2007}}
* {{Cite book |last=Steere |first= Bob F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2cwd56VvOMC&q=Maslow's+hierarchy+of+needs&pg=PA21 |title=Becoming an effective classroom manager: A resource for teachers. |publisher=SUNY Press |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-88706-620-7 |location=Albany, NY |access-date=November 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626174543/https://books.google.com/books?id=S2cwd56VvOMC&q=Maslow's+hierarchy+of+needs&pg=PA21 |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Wills |first1= Evelyn |last2= McEwen |first2= Melanie |title=Theoretical basis for nursing |isbn=9781451190311|oclc=857664345 |year=2014 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins }}


== Further reading ==
* A. H. Maslow. ''A Theory of Human Motivation.'' Psychological Review, 50, 370-396. (1943)
* {{cite journal|last=Heylighen|first=Francis|title=A cognitive-systemic reconstruction of Maslow's theory of self-actualization|journal=Behavioral Science|year=1992|volume=37|issue=1|pages=39–58|doi=10.1002/bs.3830370105|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724170247/http://cleamc11.vub.ac.be/Papers/Maslow.pdf | archive-date=July 24, 2012 | url=http://cleamc11.vub.ac.be/Papers/Maslow.pdf|author-link=Francis Heylighen}}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Kress | first1 = Oliver | year = 1993 | title = A new approach to cognitive development: ontogenesis and the process of initiation | url = https://www.academia.edu/663726 | journal = Evolution and Cognition | volume = 2 | issue = 4| pages = 319–332 }}


== External links ==
* A. H. Maslow. ''Eupsychian Management.'' (1965). Note that the Andy Kay featured in this book is the Andy Kay of ]. Hardcover ISBN 0870940562, Paperback ISBN 025600353X
* {{Commons category inline}}
* {{Wikiquote inline}}


]
* M. A. Wahba & L. G. Bridwell. ''Maslow reconsidered: A review of research on the need hierarchy theory.'' Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 15, 212-240. (1976).
]
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Latest revision as of 15:30, 23 December 2024

Theory of developmental psychology

Simplified hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a conceptualisation of the needs (or goals) that motivate human behaviour, which was proposed by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. According to Maslow’s original formulation, there are five sets of basic needs that are related to each other in a hierarchy of prepotency (or strength). Typically, the hierarchy is depicted in the form of a pyramid although Maslow was not himself responsible for the iconic diagram. The pyramid begins at the bottom with physiological needs (the most prepotent of all) and culminates at the top with self-actualization needs. In his later writings, Maslow added a sixth level of ‘meta-needs’ and metamotivation.

The hierarchy of needs developed by Maslow is one of his most enduring contributions to psychology. The hierarchy of needs remains a popular framework and tool in higher education, business and management training, sociology research, healthcare, counselling and social work. However, although widely used and researched, the hierarchy of needs has been criticized for its lack of conclusive supporting evidence and its validity remains contested.

Historical development

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is an idea in psychology proposed by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" in the journal Psychological Review. The theory is a classification system intended to reflect the universal needs of society as its base, then proceeding to more acquired emotions. The hierarchy is split between deficiency needs and growth needs, with two key themes involved within the theory being individualism and the prioritization of needs.

According to Maslow’s original formulation, there are five sets of basic needs: physiological, safety, love, esteem and self-actualization. These needs are related to each other in a hierarchy of prepotency (or strength) beginning with the physiological needs that are the most prepotent of all. If the physiological needs are relatively well gratified, a new set of safety needs emerges. If both the physiological and safety needs are fairly well gratified, the prepotent (‘higher’) need of love (both its giving and receiving) then emerges. The next need is esteem, and finally self-actualization. Maslow also coined the term "metamotivation" to describe the motivation of people who go beyond the scope of basic needs and strive for constant betterment.

The hierarchy suggests a rigid separation of needs, but Maslow stressed that a need does not require being satisfied 100% before the next need emerges. Instead, “a more realistic description of the hierarchy would be in terms of decreasing percentages of satisfaction as we go up the hierarchy of prepotency”.

Pyramid

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often portrayed in the shape of a pyramid, with the largest, most fundamental needs at the bottom, and the need for self-actualization and transcendence at the top. However, Maslow himself never created a pyramid to represent the hierarchy of needs.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs represented as a pyramid.

The most fundamental four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "d-needs": esteem, friendship and love, security, and physical needs. If these "deficiency needs" are not met – except for the most fundamental (physiological) need – there may not be a physical indication, but the individual will feel anxious and tense. Deprivation is what causes deficiency, so when one has unmet needs, this motivates them to fulfill what they are being denied.

The human brain is a complex system and has parallel processes running at the same time, thus many different motivations from various levels of Maslow's hierarchy can occur at the same time. Maslow spoke clearly about these levels and their satisfaction in terms such as "relative", "general", and "primarily". Instead of stating that the individual focuses on a certain need at any given time, Maslow stated that a certain need "dominates" the human organism. Thus Maslow acknowledged the likelihood that the different levels of motivation could occur at any time in the human mind, but he focused on identifying the basic types of motivation and the order in which they would tend to be met. In addition to his anthropological studies, Maslow drew on animal data that "studied and observed monkeys noticing their unusual pattern of behavior that addressed priorities based on individual needs".

Alternative illustrations of hierarchy

Alternative illustration of hierarchy of needs with overlapping needs

In contrast to the well-known pyramid, a number of alternative schematic illustrations of the hierachy of needs have been developed. One of the earliest, in 1962, shows a more dynamic hierarchy in terms of 'waves' of different needs overlapping at the same time. As illustrated, the peak of an earlier main set of needs must be passed before the next 'higher' need can begin to assume a dominant role.

Other schematic illustrations of the hierarchy use overlapping triangles to depict the interaction of the different needs. One such updated hierarchy proposes that self-actualization is removed from its privileged place atop the pyramid because it is largely subsumed within status (esteem) and mating-related motives in the new framework.

Needs

Physiological needs

Physiological needs are the base of the hierarchy. These needs are the biological component for human survival. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are factored into internal motivation. According to Maslow's theory, humans are compelled to satisfy physiological needs first to pursue higher levels of intrinsic satisfaction. To advance higher-level needs in Maslow's hierarchy, physiological needs must be met first. This means that if a person is struggling to meet their physiological needs, they are unwilling to seek safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization on their own.

Physiological needs include: Air, Water, Food, Heat, Clothes, Reproduction, Shelter and Sleep. Many of these physiological needs must be met for the human body to remain in homeostasis. Air, for example, is a physiological need; a human being requires air more urgently than higher-level needs, such as a sense of social belonging. Physiological needs are critical to "meet the very basic essentials of life". This allows for cravings such as hunger and thirst to be satisfied and not disrupt the regulation of the body.

Safety needs

Once a person's physiological needs are satisfied, their safety needs take precedence and dominate behavior. In the absence of physical safety – due to war, natural disaster, family violence, childhood abuse, etc. and/or in the absence of economic safety – (due to an economic crisis and lack of work opportunities) these safety needs manifest themselves in ways such as a preference for job security, grievance procedures for protecting the individual from unilateral authority, savings accounts, insurance policies, disability accommodations, etc. This level is more likely to predominate in children as they generally have a greater need to feel safe – especially children who have disabilities. Adults are also impacted by this, typically in economic matters; "adults are not immune to the need of safety". It includes shelter, job security, health, and safe environments. If a person does not feel safe in an environment, they will seek safety before attempting to meet any higher level of survival. This is why the "goal of consistently meeting the need for safety is to have stability in one's life", stability brings back the concept of homeostasis for humans which our bodies need.

Safety needs include:

Love and social needs

After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is interpersonal and involves feelings of belongingness. According to Maslow, humans possess an effective need for a sense of belonging and acceptance among social groups, regardless of whether these groups are large or small; being a part of a group is crucial, regardless if it is work, sports, friends or family. The sense of belongingness is "being comfortable with and connection to others that results from receiving acceptance, respect, and love." For example, some large social groups may include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, gangs or online communities. Some examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and confidants. Humans need to love and be loved – both sexually and non-sexually – by others according to Maslow. Many people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety, and clinical depression in the absence of this love or belonging element. This need is especially strong in childhood and it can override the need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies due to hospitalism, neglect, shunning, ostracism, etc. can adversely affect the individual's ability to form and maintain emotionally significant relationships in general. Mental health can be a huge factor when it comes to an individual's needs and development. When an individual's needs are not met, it can cause depression during adolescence. When an individual grows up in a higher-income family, it is much more likely that they will have a lower rate of depression. This is because all of their basic needs are met. Studies have shown that when a family goes through financial stress for a prolonged time, depression rates are higher, not only because their basic needs are not being met, but because this stress strains the parent-child relationship. The parent(s) is stressed about providing for their children, and they are also likely to spend less time at home because they are working more to make more money and provide for their family.

Social belonging needs include:

In certain situations, the need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs, depending on the strength of the peer pressure. In contrast, for some individuals, the need for self-esteem is more important than the need for belonging; and for others, the need for creative fulfillment may supersede even the most basic needs.

Esteem needs

Esteem is the respect, and admiration of a person, but also "self-respect and respect from others". Most people need stable esteem, meaning that which is soundly based on real capacity or achievement. Maslow noted two versions of esteem needs. The "lower" version of esteem is the need for respect from others and may include a need for status, recognition, fame, prestige, and attention. The "higher" version of esteem is the need for self-respect, and can include a need for strength, competence, mastery, self-confidence, independence, and freedom. This "higher" version takes guidelines, the "hierarchies are interrelated rather than sharply separated". This means that esteem and the subsequent levels are not strictly separated; instead, the levels are closely related.

Esteem comes from day-to-day experiences which provide a learning opportunity that allows us to discover ourselves. This is incredibly important for children, which is why giving them "the opportunity to discover they are competent and capable learners" is crucial. To boost this, adults must provide opportunities for children to have successful and positive experiences to give children a greater "sense of self". Adults, especially parents and educators must create and ensure an environment for children that is supportive and provides them with opportunities that "helps children see themselves as respectable, capable individuals". It can also be found that "Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children ... and precedes real self-esteem or dignity", which reflects the two aspects of esteem: for oneself and others.

Cognitive needs

Main article: Need for cognition

It has been suggested that Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be extended after esteem needs into two more categories: cognitive needs and aesthetic needs. Cognitive needs crave meaning, information, comprehension and curiosity – this creates a will to learn and attain knowledge.  From an educational viewpoint, Maslow wanted humans to have intrinsic motivation to become educated people. People have cognitive needs such as creativity, foresight, curiosity, and meaning. Individuals who enjoy activities that require deliberation and brainstorming have a greater need for cognition. Individuals who are unmotivated to participate in the activity, on the other hand, have a low demand for cognitive abilities.

Aesthetic needs

After reaching one's cognitive needs, it would progress to aesthetic needs to beautify one's life. This would consist of having the ability to appreciate the beauty within the world around one's self, on a day-to-day basis. According to Maslow's theories, to progress toward Self-Actualization, humans require beautiful imagery or novel and aesthetically pleasing experiences. Humans must immerse themselves in nature's splendor while paying close attention to their surroundings and observing them in order to extract the world's beauty. One would accomplish this by making their environment pleasant to look at or be around. They might discover personal style choices that they feel represent them and make their environment a place that they fit well into. This higher level of need to connect with nature results in a sense of intimacy with nature and all that is endearing. Aesthetic needs also relate to beautifying oneself. This would consist of improving one's physical appearance to ensure its beauty to balance the rest of the body. This is done by making and finding ways one wants to dress and express oneself through personal beauty and grooming standards and ideas.

Self-actualization

Main article: Self-actualization

"What a man can be, he must be. This quotation forms the basis of the perceived need for self-actualization. This level of need refers to the realization of one's full potential. Maslow describes this as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be. People may have a strong, particular desire to become an ideal parent, succeed athletically, or create paintings, pictures, or inventions. To understand this level of need, a person must not only succeed in the previous needs but master them. Self-actualization can be described as a value-based system when discussing its role in motivation. Self-actualization is understood as the goal or explicit motive, and the previous stages in Maslow's hierarchy fall in line to become the step-by-step process by which self-actualization is achievable; an explicit motive is the objective of a reward-based system that is used to intrinsically drive the completion of certain values or goals. Individuals who are motivated to pursue this goal seek and understand how their needs, relationships, and sense of self are expressed through their behavior. Self-actualization needs include:

  • Partner acquisition
  • Parenting
  • Utilizing and developing talents and abilities
  • Pursuing goals

Transcendence needs

Main articles: Transcendence (philosophy), Transcendence (religion), and Self-transcendence

Maslow later subdivided the triangle's top to include self-transcendence, also known as spiritual needs. Spiritual needs differ from other types of needs in that they can be met on multiple levels. When this need is met, it produces feelings of integrity and raises things to a higher plane of existence. In his later years, Maslow explored a further dimension of motivation, while criticizing his original vision of self-actualization. Maslow tells us that by transcending you have a set of roots in your current culture but you are able to look over it as well and see other viewpoints and ideas. By these later ideas, one finds the fullest realization in giving oneself to something beyond oneself—for example, in altruism or spirituality. He equated this with the desire to reach the infinite. "Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the cosmos."

Criticism

Blackfoot influence

Maslow's early (1938) anthropological research included a fieldtrip to the Blackfoot people (Siksika Nation) in southern Alberta, Canada. Based on his observations of their peaceful and cooperative way of life (in contrast to American society), Maslow concluded that human destructiveness and aggression is largely culturally determined and “most probably a secondary, reactive consequence of thwarting of or threat to the basic human needs”. However, claims have been made that Maslow had failed to acknowledge the influence of the Blackfoot philosophy in developing the hierarchy of needs.

According to Kaufman, while acknowledging that Maslow learned much from the Blackfoot people, “there is nothing in these writings to suggest he borrowed or stole ideas for his hierarchy of needs”. Without wishing to discredit Maslow, Blackfoot elders and scholars have argued that Maslow did not really understand the Blackfoot philosophy. "It is not that Maslow got the hierarchy wrong or upside down, it is rather that he did not understand the circular nature in which all beings in Siksika society are interconnected and integrated. They surround each other and needs are met through these connections".

Self-actualizing people

Maslow studied people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Baruch Spinoza, rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy".

Ranking

Global ranking

In a 1976 review of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, little evidence was found for the specific ranking of needs that Maslow described or for the existence of a definite hierarchy at all. This refutation was claimed to be supported by the majority of longitudinal data and cross-sectional studies at the time, with the limited support for Maslow's hierarchy criticized due to poor measurement criteria and selection of control groups.

In 1984, the order in which the hierarchy is arranged was criticized as being ethnocentric by Geert Hofstede. In turn, Hofstede's work was criticized by others. Maslow's hierarchy of needs was argued as failing to illustrate and expand upon the difference between the social and intellectual needs of those raised in individualistic societies and those raised in collectivist societies. The needs and drives of those in individualistic societies tend to be more self-centered than those in collectivist societies, focusing on the improvement of the self, with self-actualization being the apex of self-improvement. In collectivist societies, the needs of acceptance and community will outweigh the needs for freedom and individuality.

Criticisms towards the theory have also been expressed on the lack of consideration towards individualism and collectivism in the context of spirituality.

Sex ranking

The position and value of sex within Maslow's hierarchy have been a source of criticism. Maslow's hierarchy places sex in the physiological needs category, alongside food and breathing. Some critics argue that this placement of sex neglects the emotional, familial, and evolutionary implications of sex within the community, although others point out that this critique could apply to all of the basic needs. However, Maslow himself acknowledged that the satisfaction of sexual desire was likely linked to other social motives as well. Furthermore, it is recognized that physiological needs such as sex and hunger can be related to higher-order motivations.

Cultural and individual variations

Although recent research appears to validate the existence of universal human needs, as well as shared ordering of the way in which people seek and satisfy needs, the exact hierarchy proposed by Maslow is called into question. The most common criticism is the expectation that different individuals, with similar backgrounds and at similar junctures in their respective lives, when faced with the same situation, would end up taking the same decision. Instead of that, a common observation is that humans are driven by a unique set of motivations, and their behavior cannot be reliably predicted based on the Maslowian principles.

The classification of the higher-order (self-esteem and self-actualization) and lower-order (physiological, safety, and love) needs is not universal and may vary across cultures due to individual differences and availability of resources in the region or geopolitical entity/country.

In a 1997 study, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of a thirteen-item scale showed there were two particularly important levels of needs in the US during the peacetime of 1993 to 1994: survival (physiological and safety) and psychological (love, self-esteem, and self-actualization). In 1991, a retrospective peacetime measure was established and collected during the Persian Gulf War, and US citizens were asked to recall the importance of needs from the previous year. Once again, only two levels of needs were identified; therefore, people have the ability and competence to recall and estimate the importance of needs. For citizens in the Middle East (Egypt and Saudi Arabia), three levels of needs regarding importance and satisfaction surfaced during the 1990 retrospective peacetime. These three levels were completely different from those of US citizens.

Changes regarding the importance and satisfaction of needs from the retrospective peacetime to wartime due to stress varied significantly across cultures (the US vs. the Middle East). For the US citizens, there was only one level of needs, since all needs were considered equally important. With regards to satisfaction of needs during the war, in the US there were three levels: physiological needs, safety needs, and psychological needs (social, self-esteem, and self-actualization). During the war, the satisfaction of physiological needs and safety needs were separated into two independent needs, while during peacetime, they were combined as one. For the people of the Middle East, the satisfaction of needs changed from three levels to two during wartime.

A study of the ordering of needs in Asia found differences between the ordering of lower and higher order needs. For instance, community (related to belongingness and considered a lower order need in Maslow's hierarchy) was found to be the highest order need across Asia, followed closely by self-acceptance and growth.

A 1981 study looked at how Maslow's hierarchy might vary across age groups. A survey asked participants of varying ages to rate a set number of statements from most important to least important. The researchers found that children had higher physical need scores than the other groups, the love need emerged from childhood to young adulthood, the esteem need was highest among the adolescent group, young adults had the highest self-actualization level, and old age had the highest level of security, it was needed across all levels comparably. The authors argued that this suggested Maslow's hierarchy may be limited as a theory for developmental sequence since the sequence of the love need and the self-esteem need should be reversed according to age.

The hierarchy of needs has been criticized from an Islamic point of view.

See also

Notes

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  4. ^ Maslow 1971.
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References

Further reading

External links

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