Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow proposed one of the earliest theories of human motivation in 1943. He was an American clinical psychologist who based his theory on observations of patients. There are two primary parts to his theory:
According to Maslow, there are five categories of needs organized into a hierarchy from lower-order or basic needs to higher-order needs. The hierarchy is pictured below:
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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs |
Basic-Level Needs: Physiological needs include our basic biological needs and the things we need to survive (e.g., food, water, air). Safety needs include our needs for self-preservation, a safe environment, and protection from physical danger and threat (e.g., shelter).
Higher-Order Needs: Social needs include needs for friendship, companionship, and to be liked and accepted. Social needs are also called love or belongingness needs. Esteem needs include our needs for recognition and appreciation, as well as respect from ourselves and others. Self-actualization needs include needs for self-improvement, self-fulfillment, and personal growth. Although Maslow is probably best known for the concept of self-actualization, it is the least understood of the hierarchy because it is not defined precisely. In the words of Maslow, it is "the desire to become . . . everything that one is capable of becoming" (Maslow, 1943, p. 382). This need can never be fully satisfied, and once it is activated, it stimulates an even greater desire for satisfaction.