MASLOW'S THEORY OF MOTIVATION AND HUMAN NEEDS
MASLOW'S THEORY OF MOTIVATION AND HUMAN NEEDS
LEVELS OF NEEDS
Level 5 = Self-Actualization
FULFILLMENT OF GOALS & DREAMS
Need for self-fulfillment. Desire to realize your Be a self-starter, have enthusiasm, be
full potential and become the best you are
capable of becoming.
Level 4 = Self-Esteem
SELF RESPECT & ACCEPTANCE
Need for reputation, prestige, and recognition
from others. Contains the desire to feel
important, strong and significant.
Level 3 = Love & Relationships
COMMUNICATION & RESPONSE
Need to be loved and to love. Includes the
desire for affection and belonging.
Level 2 = Your Family & Work
SOCIAL SAFETY & SECURITY
Need to be safe from physical and
psychological harm in the present and future,
and trust in a predictable future.
Level 1 = Your Body
PHYSICAL SAFETY & SECURITY
MOTIVATION & BEHAVIOR
Level 5 = Self-Actualization
CREATIVITY
creative, be dedicated, enjoy
challenges, love to accomplish results!
Level 4 = Self-Esteem
BRAINPOWER
Display your talents and skills, have
self-confidence, appreciate attention
and recognition from others.
Level 3 = Love & Relationships
VALIDATION
Join and be active in clubs and groups,
be able to talk to others, contribute to
society, marry and have a family.
Level 2 = Your Family & Work
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Work, save for future, improve skills
and talents, be responsible, and want
an organized predictable world.
Level 1 = Your Body
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Need to stay alive! Biological and cultural Eat, sleep, and take care of your bodily
imperatives to live. Includes having enough needs, provide for clothing, shelter,
healthy food, air, and water to survive. comfort, be free from pain.

Description of Maslow's Motivation

Theory
Abraham Maslow is considered to be the father of Humanistic Psychology,also known as
the "Third Force". Humanistic Psychology incorporatesaspects of both Behavioral
Psychology and Psychoanalytic Psychology. Behaviorists believe that human behavior is
controlled by external environmentalfactors. Psychoanalytic Psychology is based on the
idea that human behavior iscontrolled by internal unconscious forces. Though he studied
both Behavioraland Psychoanalytic Psychologies, Maslow rejected the idea that human
behavior iscontrolled by only internal or external forces. Instead, Maslow's
motivationthrory states that man's behavior is controlled by both internal and
externalfactors. In addition he emphasizes that humans have the unique ability to
makechoices and excercise free-will.

Maslow showed little interest in animal or laboratory studies of humanbehavior. He chose

instead to collect data for his theories by studyingoutstanding individuals. His studies led
him to believe that people havecertain needs which are unchanging and genetic in origin.
These needs are thesame in all cultures and are both physiological and psychological.
Maslowdescribed these needs as being hierarchal in nature, meaning that some needs
aremore basic or more powerful than others and as these needs are satisfied, otherhigher
needs emerge.

Explanation of Hierarchy
General

Maslow presents a hierarchy of needs which can be divided into

Every individual is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchytoward a level of
self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is oftendisrupted by failure to meet lower level
needs. Life experiences includingdivorce and loss of job may cause an individual to
fluctuate between levels ofthe hierarchy. Maslow noted only one in ten individuals
become fullyself-actualized because our society rewards motivation primarily based
onesteem, love and other social needs.
Specific Needs

Basic Needs

• Physiological: need for sleep and rest , food, drink, shelter, sex,and oxygen
• Safety: need to be safe from harm, for a predictable world withconsistency,
fairness, routine, for sense of stability and security

Growth Needs

• Love and Belonging: need for love and affectionate relationships,belonging to a

group, and caring
• Esteem: two components ......................................................................................
self-respect: desire for confidence, competence, adequacy,achievement, mastery
....... respect of others: desire foracceptance, recognition, reputation, appreciation,
status, prestige
• Understanding and Knowledge: need to satisfy curiosity, explore, discover,find
solutions, look for relationships and meaning, and seek intellectualchallenges
• Aesthetics: need for beauty in surroundings
• Self-actualization: need for growth, development and utilization ofpotential,
becoming all that one can be, self-fulfillment

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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a "content theory" of motivation" (the other main one is
Herzberg's Two Factor Theory).

Maslow's theory consisted of two parts:

(1) The classification of human needs, and

(2) Consideration of how the classes are related to each other

The classes of needs were summarised by Maslow as follows:

How does the Hierarchy Work?

- A person starts at the bottom of the hierarchy (pyramid) and will initially seek to satisfy
basic needs (e.g. food, shelter)

- Once these physiological needs have been satisfied, they are no longer a motivator. the
individual moves up to the next level

- Safety needs at work could include physical safety (e.g. protective clothing) as well as
protection against unemployment, loss of income through sickness etc)

- Social needs recognise that most people want to belong to a group. These would include
the need for love and belonging (e.g. working with colleague who support you at work,
teamwork, communication)

- Esteem needs are about being given recognition for a job well done. They reflect the
fact that many people seek the esteem and respect of others. A promotion at work might
achieve this

- Self-actualisation is about how people think about themselves - this is often measured
by the extent of success and/or challenge at work

Maslow's model has great potential appeal in the business world. The message is clear - if
management can find out which level each employee has reached, then they can decide
on suitable rewards.
Problems with the Maslow Model

There are several problems with the Maslow model when real-life working practice is
considered:

- Individual behaviour seems to respond to several needs - not just one

- The same need (e.g. the need to interact socially at work) may cause quite different
behaviour in different individuals

- There is a problem in deciding when a level has actually been "satisfied"

- The model ignores the often-observed behaviour of individuals who tolerate low-pay for
the promise of future benefits

- There is little empirical evidence to support the model. Some critics suggest that
Maslow's model is only really relevant to understanding the behaviour of middle-class
workers in the UK and the USA (where Maslow undertook his research).